OHANA — Optimizing cross-cultural care in hospitals
OHANA Project: Optimizing Health Care Through Alignment and Care Across Cultures
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS · NCT06944678
This project will see how matching patients and caregivers by cultural or language background affects the experiences of foreign patients and the nurses who care for them.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Rome) |
| Trial ID | NCT06944678 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This multicentre observational project, coordinated by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, explores the lived experiences of cultural concordance in hospital settings across participating Italian hospitals. It enrolls foreign patients who speak a language other than the host country language and the nurses or caregivers who directly cared for them, using in-depth qualitative methods to capture perspectives. The study seeks to identify perceived benefits, criticisms, and areas where cultural concordance creates stress or unrealistic expectations. Findings aim to clarify how cultural matching operates in practice and where support or changes are needed.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are foreign patients admitted to participating Italian hospitals who speak a language other than Italian and have experienced culturally or linguistically concordant care, along with the nurses or caregivers who directly cared for them.
Not a fit: Patients with severe cognitive impairments who cannot participate, people who did not experience cultural concordance, and caregivers who did not work closely with assigned patients are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help hospitals better match and support culturally concordant care, improving patient trust, comfort, and guiding staff training and policies.
How similar studies have performed: Some preliminary studies suggest benefits to cultural concordance, but the evidence is limited, fragmented, and not conclusive.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * All nurses or caregivers involved in the concordance system cultural will be included, with direct experience in caring for foreign patients * All foreign patients admitted to hospital who speak a language other than the main language of the host country and who have been involved in the concordance system cultural will be included Exclusion Criteria: * All patients with severe cognitive conditions that prevent participation and nurses or caregivers who do not work closely with assigned patients will be excluded.
Where this trial is running
Rome
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS — Rome, Italy (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Cristina Pistacchio, PI — Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome
- Study coordinator: Cristina Pistacchio, PI
- Email: cristina.pistacchio@policlinicogemelli.it
- Phone: +393382458373
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Cultural Competence