Assessment of attitudes toward patient rights of people live from a Turkey town and migrating to Belgium

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the attitudes of individuals living in Belgium and in Emirdag in regard to patient rights and the effect of cultural differences in developing the attitude. This study measures the attitudes of two groups of people living in different geographies, “individuals living in Emirdag and Individuals emigrated from Emirdag to Belgium,” and yet having the same ethnic origin, common social and cultural capital. Design methodology/approach Implementing quantitative research, the data for the current study was obtained from a total of 1,043 participants, who were administered the Likert type “Patient Rights Attitude Scale” along with demographic questionnaire. Findings The total score mean of the scale is 126.09 ± 15.21 in the Emirdag group, whereas in the Belgian group, it is 129.78 ± 13.356. While the attitude with the highest mean score about patient rights in both groups observed under “the right to seek medical attention” and “the right to consent in medical and drug researches” items and thusthese items are considered as a common denominator, the two groups differed in the scale items that received the lowest average. Social implications It is important to determine the effects of attitudes toward patient rights and cultural differences on the development of attitudes, to determine the problems in the delivery of health services and health service procurement. Originality/value The structures that direct the choices and decisions of individuals in critical subjects such as organ transplantation and euthanasia, and thus having different practices in the doctrine, can be affected by individuals and even society’s rules, beliefs and values. It was concluded that immigrant participants’ dominating culture and related beliefs, rules and values play a role in the making of decision and choice.