Journal Article

Adult newcomers’ perceptions of access to care and differences in health systems after relocation from Syria

Carter, Nancy, Wahoush, Olive, Aljbour, Rawan, Carroll, Sandra, Nair, Kalpana

2022

Overview

Background In Canada, approximately 13% of the population lives with multiple chronic conditions. Newcomers, including refugees, have the same or higher risk of developing chronic diseases as their host population. In 2015–2016, Canada welcomed almost 40, 000 newcomers from Syria. This study aimed to (1) understand adult newcomer health needs for self-management of non-infectious chronic conditions; and (2) identify strategies to improve access to health care services to meet these needs. Methods This study used a qualitative descriptive design. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with consenting newcomers, service providers and community agency administrators. Interview guides were developed with input from community partners and snowball sampling was used. Results Participants included 22 Syrian newcomers and 8 service providers/administrators. Findings revealed the initial year of arrival as one of multiple adjustments, often rendering chronic disease management to a lower priority. Self-care and self-management were not routinely incorporated into newcomer lives though community health agencies were proactive in creating opportunities to learn self-management practices. Gaps in access to care were prevalent, including mental health services which typically were not well developed for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly for men. Newcomers expressed frustration with lengthy wait times and not being able to access specialists directly. Youth frequently played a key role in translation and disseminating information about services to their families. Conclusion Chronic disease management was a low priority for newcomers who were focussed on resettlement issues such as learning English or finding work. Provision of practical supports such as bus tickets, translation, and information about the healthcare system were identified as means of improving access to care.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adults / Cardiovascular disease / Chronic conditions / Chronic disease / Chronic diseases / Chronic illnesses / Community support / Conflict Studies / Data collection / Development and progression / Diabetes / Disease management / Emergency Medicine / Epidemiology / Focus groups / Frustration / Health care / Health care access / Health care policy / Health care reform / Health Promotion and Disease Prevention / Health services / Health services accessibility / Health Services Research / Health services utilization / Hypertension / Immigrants / Information dissemination / Interviews / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental disorders / Mental health / Post traumatic stress disorder / Psychiatric services / Psychological stress / Public Health / Qualitative research / Refugees / Relocation / Research methodology / Resettlement / Stakeholders / Syria / Translation / Trauma