Identifying Barriers to Healthcare Access for New Immigrants: A Qualitative Study in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Abstract

Despite universal healthcare, immigrants often face unique challenges accessing healthcare. Employing an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach, four focus groups were conducted with 29 women and eight men from 15 different countries attending English language classes hosted at a non-governmental organization in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada in 2016 and 2017. Personal factors such as language barrier, lack of transportation, childcare and others interacted with systemic factors such as lack of appointment, long wait times, etc. delaying access at each point of contact with the healthcare system. Participants expressed dissatisfaction with the potency of medications, time spent in appointments and the way healthcare professionals communicated health information. The referral process and wait times were viewed as barriers to accessing specialist, diagnostic and acute care services. Participants were concerned that appropriate healthcare will be unavailable when needed. Strategies addressing systemic and person-specific barriers are needed to provide equitable client-centered care.