Cross-cultural Adaptation And Its Influencing Factors Of Chinese Medical Aid Team In Africa

Objective:This investigation of the cross-cultural adaptation of foreign aid medical team is based on two aspects:sociocultural adaptation and life satisfaction.Exploring the influencing factors of cross-cultural adaptation of Chinese Foreign aid medical team,and exploring the relationship between social cultural adaptation and life satisfaction.Methods:This study investigated the Chinese Foreign aid medical team who were carrying out the foreign aid missions in Africa from August 15,2016 to November 20,2016.The survey was conducted on the Chinese Foreign medical team members at 85 medical centers that are implementing foreign aid missions in African countries and regions,and electronic questionnaires were distributed using the Wuhan University Global Health institute information platform.The survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire.The questionnaire included the Social and Cultural Adaptation Scale(SCAS)and the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire.In combination with in-depth interviews and field trips in typical provinces and cities,we will jointly evaluate the cross-cultural adaptation of medical team in aiding Africa.The socio-cultural adaptation score and life satisfaction were expressed as measurement data.The t test was used for comparison between the two groups.The variance test was used for comparison among multiple groups;the factors affecting sociocultural adaptation,life satisfaction,and the relationship between the two were studied using multiplex methods.Linear regression analysis.The difference was statistically significant at P<0.05.Results:A total of 338 questionnaires were recovered.After logical errors were detected,317 valid questionnaires were finally included.The effective rate was 93.8%.The proportion of males was 65.6%,which was 34.4%higher than that of females.The average age was(43.0 ± 7.8).85.8%of the members were in the marriage,and 63.1%of them were undergraduates,followed by graduate students 26.2%.(1)Sociocultural adaptation scores:The average social and cultural adaptation score of Chinese foreign medical team was(3.18 ± 0.96)points,among which the highest score was public awareness dimension(3.36 ± 0.85)points,next is the adaptation of the living environment with a score of(3.26 ±0.85)points.Interpersonal adaptation is the lowest score,for(3.04 ± 0.73)points.Single factor analysis,social and cultural adaptation scores are not sent to the central provinces and cities(3.31 ± 0.61)higher than the eastern part(3.14 ± 0.68);non-hard areas(3.38 ±0.55)are higher than one type of hardship area(3.08 ± 0.64)and two hardship areas(3.12±0.71);Aids time ?6(2.95 ± 0.58)is lower than 6?12 months(3.21 ± 0.72);12?18 months(3.26 ± 0.54),and>18 months(3.24 ± 0.71).During the period of aiding Africa,the income was less than 130thousand yuan(2.89 ± 0.61)less than 130-190 thousand yuan(3.25 ± 0.64),190-250 thousand yuan(3.26 ± 0.59),and more than 250 thousand yuan(3.18 ± 0.58)were statistically significant(P<0.05).(2)Life satisfaction score:The total score of satisfaction was(2.82 ± 1.17)points.Among them,the overall satisfaction degree of"traffic and travel" was(3.35 ± 0.96)points;followed by the overall satisfaction degree of "living" was(3.04 ± 1.01)points,satisfaction with "medical insurance" was(2.86 ± 1.06)points,overall satisfaction with "diet" was(2.72 ± 0.97)points,and satisfaction with "entertainment" was lowest with(2.19 ± 0.85)points.In the single factor analysis,the total score of marriged life satisfaction was(2.86 ± 0.73)higher than that of non-marriage status(2.60 ± 0.70);no experience of going abroad(2.93 ± 1.00)was higher than that of going abroad(2.66±1.20);The non-hardship area(3.02 ± 0.67)is higher than the type-1 hardship area(2.70 ± 0.66)and the type-2 of hardship area(2.71 ± 0.71);The foreign aid aid time ?6 months(2.90 ± 0.69),6?12(2.83 ± 0.79)and 12-18 months(2.97 ± 0.67)is higher than the period>18 months(2.53 ± 0.76).There was a significant difference between the groups(P<0.05).(3)Influencing factors of socio-cultural adaptation:There was a negative correlation in type 1 hardship area(?=-0.2319,P=0.013),and income during the period of aiding Africa:130-190 thousand yuan(?=0.170,P=0.042),190-250 thousand yuan(?=0.188,P=0.029).(4)Influencing factors of life satisfaction:senior professional title(?=-0.244,P= 0,045),type 1 hardship area(f?=-0.248,P=0.004),distance from the resident to medical point more than 29 minutes(?=0.232,P=0.008),aid period from 6 to 12 months(?=-0.184,P=0.016),>18months(?=-0.169,p=0.047)were negatively correlated with satisfaction degree;(?= 0.139,P=0.035),1 to 2 times entertainment per month(?=0.024,P=0.008),and have insurance(?=0.213,p=0.001)positively correlated with life satisfaction.(5)The relationship between socio-cultural adaptation and life satisfaction:Compared with the less-adapted group the general adaptation group(?=0.176,P=0.040),the comparative adaptation group(?=0.485,P<0.001)have a positive correlation with life satisfaction.Conclusions:(1)From the two aspect of sociocultural adaptation and life satisfactionthe the social and cultural adaptability of foreign aid medical team is generally.(2)Classification of hardship areas,income during the period of aiding Africa are factors influencing social and cultural adaptation of the foreign aid medical team;Titles,classification of hardship areas,distances from the resident to the medical center,foreign aid insurance,type of residence,number of monthly entertainment activities,and time for aiding Africa are the influencing factos of life satisfactionfor Chinese Foreign aid medical team.(3)There is a positive correlation between sociocultural adaptation and life satisfaction of Chihese Foreign aid medical team.Suggestion:It is recommended that Chinese foreign aid medical team members,especially those in hardship areas,be strengthened to organize their work before expatriate,appropriately increase the level of allowance,improve the hardware conditions of life,strengthen the number of psychological counseling and entertainment activities,and increase the strength of disease protection and medical insurance.