Education on medically unexplained symptoms: a systematic review with a focus on cultural diversity and migrants

Key messagesCurrent dominantly biomedical thinking hampers adequate management.A continuum of education and training focusing on a biopsychical approach is largely lacking and should be enhanced.Increasing competencies in intercultural communication in the different levels of health care is needed to address the additional complexity of MUS management in a context of increasing diversity.In view of the high prevalence of MUS and the obvious gaps detected, research and dedication of health care resources should be intensified. BackgroundHealth care providers often struggle with the management of patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), especially in case of a different ethnicity and/or cultural background. These challenges are insufficiently addressed in their training.ObjectivesA systematic review on education in the field of MUS in a diverse context to improve MUS healthcare provider-patient interaction focused on intercultural communication.MethodsScreening of PubMed, Web of Science, Cinahl and Cochrane Library on the keywords 'Medical unexplained (physical) symptoms (MUS)', 'Somatoform disorder', 'Functional syndrome', 'Diversity', 'Migrants', 'Ethnicity', 'Care models', 'Medical education', 'Communication skills', 'Health literacy'.ResultsMUS patients, especially with a different ethnic background, often feel not understood or neglected. Health care providers experience feelings of helplessness, which may provoke medical shopping and resource consumption. Attitudes and perceptions from undergraduate trainees to senior physicians tend to be negative, impacting on the quality of the patient/health care provider relationship and subsequently on health outcomes, patient satisfaction and therapeutic adherence. Current undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate education and training does not prepare health care providers for diagnosing and managing MUS patients in a diverse context. A continuum of training is necessary to achieve a long term and lasting change in attitudes towards these patients and trainers play a key role in this process. Hence, education should pay attention to MUS, requiring a specific competency profile and training, taken into account the variety in patients' cultural backgrounds.ConclusionsThis systematic review identified significant gaps and shortcomings in education on MUS in a diverse context. These need to be addressed to improve outcomes.

Automated summary

Current biomedical thinking hampers adequate management in dealing with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). A lack of education and training focusing on a biopsychical approach is observed. Intercultural communication skills need to be enhanced in healthcare to address the complexity of MUS management in a diverse context. Research and dedication of healthcare resources should be intensified.