Facilitating refugees' access to family doctors. Issue 1 (16th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mayhew, Maureen; Grant, Karen J.; Mota, Lorena; Rouhani, Setareh; Klein, Michael C.; Kazanjian, Arminée
• Is Part Of: International journal of migration, health and social care. Volume 11:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2015-03-16
• Subjects: Access -- Healthcare -- Refugee -- Migrant -- Disparities -- Primary care; Emigration and immigration -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Social work with immigrants -- Periodicals; Immigrants -- Services for -- Periodicals; Immigrants -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Refugees -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; 362.87
• DOI: 10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2013-0046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-9894

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: – The purpose of this paper is to describe the patient level characteristics of government-assisted refugees (GARs) who had acquired family doctors after leaving specialized refugee clinics (RC). Design/methodology/approach: – A cross-sectional telephone survey of GARs households, three to six years after arrival to British Columbia, that used logistic regression to identify GAR characteristics associated with having a family doctor compared to having no family doctor or remaining at a RC. Findings: – Contact rate was 52 percent. Of 177 interviewed GARs who spoke 24 languages, only 61 percent had secured a family doctor. Only 57 percent were educated; 46 percent spoke English and 40 percent worked consistently. Central Asian or African origin was associated with having a family doctor (OR 10.6 (95 percent CI 3.1-36.8) for RC; OR 10.3 (95 percent CI 2.2-47.8) for no family doctor). Other significant characteristics in the comparison with GARs at a RC included English proficiency (OR 15.6 (95 percent CI 4.3-56.9)), and female sex (OR 4.0 (95 percent CI 1.4-1.1)). When compared to those with no family doctor, additional significant characteristics included Health Authority A compared to B (OR 8.9, 95 percent CI 1.4-55.6) and having recently visited a doctor (OR 7.7 (95 percent CI 1.9-30.7)). Research limitations/implications: – The results of this study are limited to a specific environment and the low contact rate may have resulted in bias. Originality/value: – This study described characteristics of GARs who had successfully transitioned to a family doctor and those who had not. This population is rarely captured in studies because they are difficult to contact, ethnically diverse and not proficient in English.