The Intercultural Mediator as a Bridge in Healthcare Professional–Migrant Patient Care Relationships: A Qualitative Study

Caggianelli, Gabriele; Anzini, Arianna; Dello Iacono, Irene; Cangelosi, Giovanni; Tomasin, Rita Patrizia; Apuzzo, Luigi; Torre, Marcello; Stievano, Alessandro; Ivziku, Dhurata

doi:10.3390/healthcare14131903

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Open AccessArticle

The Intercultural Mediator as a Bridge in Healthcare Professional–Migrant Patient Care Relationships: A Qualitative Study

by

Gabriele Caggianelli

^1,2,†

,

Arianna Anzini

^1,†

,

Irene Dello Iacono

^1,2,*

,

Giovanni Cangelosi

^3,*

,

Rita Patrizia Tomasin

¹,

Luigi Apuzzo

⁴

,

Marcello Torre

⁵

,

Alessandro Stievano

^2,6

and

Dhurata Ivziku

^7,8

¹

Department of Healthcare Professions, Azienda Ospedaliera Complesso Ospedaliero San Giovanni Addolorata, Via dell’Amba Aradam, 8, 00184 Rome, Italy

²

JBI Italy Evidence-Based Practice and Health Research Centre, 00136 Rome, Italy

³

School of Pharmacy, Experimental Medicine and “Stefania Scuri” Public Health Department, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy

⁴

Health Workforce Standards and Staffing Needs, Organizational Models of the Health Professions Unit, National Agency for Regional Health Services (AGENAS), Via Toscana 12, 00187 Rome, Italy

⁵

Department of Healthcare Professions, ASST Sette-Laghi, Varese 21100, Italy

⁶

Center of Excellence for Nursing Culture and Research, Order of Nursing Professions of Rome, Viale degli Ammiragli, 67 sc.B, 00136 Rome, Italy

⁷

Department of Healthcare Professions, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy

⁸

Faculty of Medical Sciences, AAB College, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Healthcare 2026, 14(13), 1903; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14131903

Submission received: 20 May 2026 / Revised: 26 June 2026 / Accepted: 29 June 2026 / Published: 30 June 2026

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aims to describe the experiences of healthcare professionals collaborating with Intercultural Mediators (IMs) in the care relationships with migrant patients. Methods: This study is a qualitative descriptive study. A total of 13 healthcare professionals (9 nurses and 4 physicians) working in two public hospitals in Italy participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews between June and July 2024. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Results: Three main categories emerged: (1) the experience of healthcare professionals in the relationship with migrant patients; (2) the linguistic and intercultural mediator as a supportive relational role; and (3) limitations in language and intercultural mediation. Participants described difficulties in mutual understanding due to cultural and linguistic barriers and emphasized the central role of the mediator as a bridge between diverse cultural worlds. IMs were described as essential in promoting trust, improving therapeutic adherence, and supporting culturally sensitive communication. However, organizational challenges included limited availability of IMs, poor integration into clinical teams, and the lack of structured, continuous support system. Conclusions: IMs are perceived as key actors in facilitating communication, trust, and therapeutic adherence with migrant patients. Yet their integration within healthcare teams remains underutilized due to organizational barriers. The findings inform managers and policymakers about the necessity of structurally integrating IMs within clinical teams and implementing intercultural competence programmes to ensure equitable and culturally sensitive care for migrant patients.

Keywords: intercultural mediator; healthcare professionals; migrant patient; culturally competent care; qualitative research; health equity

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MDPI and ACS Style

Caggianelli, G.; Anzini, A.; Dello Iacono, I.; Cangelosi, G.; Tomasin, R.P.; Apuzzo, L.; Torre, M.; Stievano, A.; Ivziku, D. The Intercultural Mediator as a Bridge in Healthcare Professional–Migrant Patient Care Relationships: A Qualitative Study. Healthcare 2026, 14, 1903. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14131903

AMA Style

Caggianelli G, Anzini A, Dello Iacono I, Cangelosi G, Tomasin RP, Apuzzo L, Torre M, Stievano A, Ivziku D. The Intercultural Mediator as a Bridge in Healthcare Professional–Migrant Patient Care Relationships: A Qualitative Study. Healthcare. 2026; 14(13):1903. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14131903

Chicago/Turabian Style

Caggianelli, Gabriele, Arianna Anzini, Irene Dello Iacono, Giovanni Cangelosi, Rita Patrizia Tomasin, Luigi Apuzzo, Marcello Torre, Alessandro Stievano, and Dhurata Ivziku. 2026. "The Intercultural Mediator as a Bridge in Healthcare Professional–Migrant Patient Care Relationships: A Qualitative Study" Healthcare 14, no. 13: 1903. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14131903

APA Style

Caggianelli, G., Anzini, A., Dello Iacono, I., Cangelosi, G., Tomasin, R. P., Apuzzo, L., Torre, M., Stievano, A., & Ivziku, D. (2026). The Intercultural Mediator as a Bridge in Healthcare Professional–Migrant Patient Care Relationships: A Qualitative Study. Healthcare, 14(13), 1903. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14131903

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