Date of Completion
2025
Document Type
Honors College Thesis
Department
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Thesis Type
Honors College
First Advisor
Teresa Graziano
Second Advisor
Jeremy Sibold
Third Advisor
Lili Martin
Keywords
Refugee Healthcare, Refugees, Vermont, U.S Healthcare, Rural, Qualitative
Abstract
This study explores the attitudes and perspectives of healthcare professionals working with refugee populations in Vermont, a rural and demographically unique U.S. state. Qualitative research was utilized and six healthcare professionals participated in semi-structured interviews. From the data collected, five key themes emerged: Communication: To Be Heard (Or Not), Refugee Groups in Vermont: One Size Does NOT Fit All, Cultural Shock: Us and Them, Resources: A launching point, and Community: Finding Community is an Unconventional Refugee Destination. Participants highlighted barriers such as difficulty adapting to Vermont, limited cultural knowledge from healthcare professionals, significant differences between refugee groups within Vermont, inadequate transportation, and resource scarcity, particularly in rural areas. They also emphasized Vermont’s tight-knit communities as both a challenge and support due to limited diversity and infrastructure, but also ability to provide extra care and spend more time with patients.. Findings demonstrated an urgent need for regionally specific cultural competency training, expanded federal and state support, and interventions set to the refugee groups in a particular area. This study indicated the necessity of region-specific research and practice to effectively address the specific healthcare needs of refugee populations depending on their country of origin and place of resettlement.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Hogan, Kara M., "Attitudes and perceptions of healthcare professionals on refugee healthcare in Vermont" (2025). UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses. 725.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/hcoltheses/725
