Search

BACKGROUND: In 2020, Norwegian Red Cross uncovered "fragmented and person-dependent" identification and rehabilitation practices of torture victims in Norway in their report "Tortured and forgotten" (Lønning et al., 2020). Despite the legal requirements imposed by laws and conventions, Norway has failed to implement effective measures to meet the humanitarian needs of torture victims. Descriptive of the situation is a lack of systematization in the identification and rehabilitation work. The report, which mainly relies on interviews in the specialist health service, further highlights the lack of knowledge in the following aspects: competence, education, professional environments and implementation of protocols. The report also highlighted the need to further map the lack of a GP perspective in this work (Lønning et al., 2020). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this thesis is to shed light on the following issues: How the health care system in Norway is organized in relation to torture victims, and in what ways the GPs in Oslo take care of refugee patients in cases of suspected torture. Attempts will be made to answer the last question in light of Lipsky's street level bureaucracy, a sociological model that offers a useful conceptual framework for understanding GP´s knowledge, practice and discretion. METHODS: In this thesis, we combine a review of both scientific publications and grey literature on how the health care system in Norway is organised in relation to torture victims and their rights with a limited interview study with GP´s in Oslo. Each individual was invited to reflect on their own knowledge and practice. This is an exploratory thematic pilot analysis with two purposes: investigate the possibility of conducting this type of study, as well as what the interviews can bring of knowledge and understanding of the field. Our study is based on a limited selection of GPs as the purpose is to shed light on and gain insight into the topic as a pilot study. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that there is a lack of knowledge in the identification, assessment and treatment of torture victims among the GPs interviewed, despite existing laws and protocols. The informants emphasise an inadequately adapted Norwegian health service when dealing with torture victims. CONCLUSION: This thesis is a pilot study intended to inspire and inform further studies. Our informants propose the establishment of specialised centres for qualified care of torture victims. We had severe recruitment challenges and only a limited number of GPs participated. We understand this limitation of our study as a result of the so-called GP crisis. With expanding responsibilities, GPs have limited time for research participation - perhaps particularly participation in student led projects. Yet, considering our extensive recruitment efforts, we are concerned that limited participation by GPs in research may produce knowledge gaps in important fields.