Tensions and Coping Strategies in Ethnically Mixed Teams: Findings from a Study in Two Emergency Departments

Yael Keshet, Benidor Raviv, Ariela Popper-Giveon, Alexander Strizhevski, Ashraf Abu-Khella

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diversity of the workforce in healthcare facilities, representative of the general population’s ethnic/racial composition, is an important health priority. Nevertheless, this diversity may generate tensions. The objective of the study was to assess tensions and coping strategies among ethnic minority and majority healthcare workers. A questionnaire was delivered to 60 healthcare workers employed in emergency departments in two hospitals, where Jewish majority and Arab minority workers care for a mixed Jewish and Arab population. Internal consistency reliability was assessed and the survey data were statistically analyzed. Several differences were found between Arab and Jewish healthcare workers. The questionnaire may be used to examine tensions in other healthcare systems, characterized by ethnic/racial diversity in the workforce. By exploring ethnic/racial tensions, health organizations should be able to manage them better and reduce their frequency.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)951-962
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume20
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Keywords

  • Arabs
  • Conflict
  • Ethnic minority
  • Healthcare workforce diversity
  • Israel

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