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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]