Who seeks care and for what reasons at a nurse-led walk-in center in an immigrant-dense area-A quantitative survey.

OBJECTIVE: To describe who seeks care and for what reasons at a nurse-led primary healthcare walk-in center in an immigrant-dense area. Studies evaluating the use of nurse-led walk-in centers in primary healthcare, emphasizing migrants, are limited. Due to language difficulties and a healthcare system based on telephone consultations, access to care is limited/problematic for the care seeker and the healthcare provider. The center aims to provide migrants and Swedish-born persons equal access to primary healthcare. Care was integrated into a healthcare center with a multi-professional environment, offering Arabic and Somali interpreters.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive registry study.

SAMPLE: All consecutive patients visiting during 1-month.

RESULTS: Most individuals (70%) seeking care at the nurse-led walk-in center were non-European migrants from Syria, Iraq and Somalia, but Swedish-born persons (30%) also consulted the clinic. Women, middle-aged, and lower-educated patients dominated. Reasons for seeking care included different kinds of pain, ear/nose/throat issues, and skin problems. Migrants prioritized non-specific pain and dizziness/headaches, while Swedes sought help primarily for upper respiratory tract infections. About 25% of the migrants needed interpreters, mostly females.

CONCLUSION: The nurse-led walk-in center provides accessible care in a multi-professional team, if needed, serving migrants and Swedish-born persons, promoting equal healthcare for all.