Please note, this is not an open access database or repository. We have focused on creating simple summaries of reports and articles that we have accessed through websites and academic journals, with a focus on key findings, so that even if a full report is not free to access you can reference it. When possible, we include a link to wherever the original document is hosted (which may or may not be open-access). If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it. There are also some reports that will have been submitted directly to the project. In this case, these reports are uploaded directly with permission from the author or publisher. Any original documents found on this site are stored in Canada on our secure servers
Discrimination negatively impacts students’ ability to adapt to and deal with the educational stressors of a new environment. When students experience discrimination, their options are to fight, fawn, or flee—that is, skip school. Results show that experiences of discrimination and psychological isolation are significant predictors of truancy (skipping school). I also find support for the effects of length of residency, paid employment, and participation in voluntary activities on increasing truancy, suggesting the importance of acculturation, socio-economic status, and time availability. Discrimination negatively impacts students’ ability to adapt to and deal with the educational stressors of a new environment. When students experience discrimination, their options are to fight, fawn, or flee—that is, skip school. Results show that experiences of discrimination and psychological isolation are significant predictors of truancy (skipping school). I also find support for the effects of length of residency, paid employment, and participation in voluntary activities on increasing truancy, suggesting the importance of acculturation, socio-economic status, and time availability.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Refugees are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) soon after resettlement. Targeting high-risk populations for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and treatment is an important measure towards eliminating TB in low incidence countries, however, there are low rates of screening and treatment completion in the LTBI cascade of care. The authors hypothesized that an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) screening strategy would lead to a higher proportion of refugees completing LTBI screening and treatment, compared to sequential screening with tuberculin skin test (TST) and confirmatory IGRA. Refugees are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) soon after resettlement. Targeting high-risk populations for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and treatment is an important measure towards eliminating TB in low incidence countries, however, there are low rates of screening and treatment completion in the LTBI cascade of care. The authors hypothesized that an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) screening strategy would lead to a higher proportion of refugees completing LTBI screening and treatment, compared to sequential screening with tuberculin skin test (TST) and confirmatory IGRA.
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Studies on immigrant populations’ access to healthcare in Canada tend to focus on adults and usually concentrate on specific ethnic groups. This study sought to present the experiences of immigrant parents in Edmonton, AB when they access health services for their children focusing specifically on the various sources of information that they used to improve their children’s health. Fifty immigrant parents from Edmonton semi-structured interviews. We developed three main themes from the data: Accessing social networks for informational support, the role of professionals in accessing health care information, and navigating and evaluating information sources. The study demonstrates that immigrant families consulted various sources of information in order to meet their children’s healthcare needs. The most common source was the Internet followed by friends and family members, and health care professionals. Findings suggest that health information that is disseminated using the Internet needs to be made available in multiple languages to facilitate communication to persons who are not fluent in English nor French. Also, policy makers and health care professionals must increase focus on informal sources of health care information. Studies on immigrant populations’ access to healthcare in Canada tend to focus on adults and usually concentrate on specific ethnic groups. This study sought to present the experiences of immigrant parents in Edmonton, AB when they access health services for their children focusing specifically on the various sources of information that they used to improve their children’s health. Fifty immigrant parents from Edmonton semi-structured interviews. We developed three main themes from the data: Accessing social networks for informational support, the role of professionals in accessing health care information, and navigating and evaluating information sources. The study demonstrates that immigrant families consulted various sources of information in order to meet their children’s healthcare needs. The most common source was the Internet followed by friends and family members, and health care professionals. Findings suggest that health information that is disseminated using the Internet needs to be made available in multiple languages to facilitate communication to persons who are not fluent in English nor French. Also, policy makers and health care professionals must increase focus on informal sources of health care information.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
This study examined barriers that influence
access to and use of mental health services by Black youth in Alberta. Interviews and conversation café-style focus groups with the youth highlighted key barriers that can limit access to and utilization of
mental health services by Black youth, including a lack of cultural inclusion and safety, a lack of knowledge/information on mental health services, the cost of mental health services, geographical barriers, stigma and judgmentalism, and limits of resilience. Findings confirm diverse/intersecting barriers that collectively perpetuate disproportional access to and uptake of mental health services by Black youths. This study examined barriers that influence
access to and use of mental health services by Black youth in Alberta. Interviews and conversation café-style focus groups with the youth highlighted key barriers that can limit access to and utilization of
mental health services by Black youth, including a lack of cultural inclusion and safety, a lack of knowledge/information on mental health services, the cost of mental health services, geographical barriers, stigma and judgmentalism, and limits of resilience. Findings confirm diverse/intersecting barriers that collectively perpetuate disproportional access to and uptake of mental health services by Black youths.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Enrollment of international post-secondary students is increasing across Canadian campuses. International post-secondary students may experience challenges in accessing nutritious foods that meet their dietary needs and food preferences. These challenges can pose negative impacts on their health, well-being, and academic achievement. Our aim was to describe international post-secondary students’ perceptions of (1) challenges to attaining food security and (2) consequences of food insecurity on the university experience. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 11 international post-secondary students at the University of Alberta who had food insecurity and who had requested emergency foodhampers from the on-campus food bank. Our results revealed the negative impacts that food insecurity can have on international post-secondary students. Findings underscore the imperative to minimize the occurrence of food insecurity while studying in Alberta, Canada by introducing and enhancing support systems on campus and in the community to enable food security. Enrollment of international post-secondary students is increasing across Canadian campuses. International post-secondary students may experience challenges in accessing nutritious foods that meet their dietary needs and food preferences. These challenges can pose negative impacts on their health, well-being, and academic achievement. Our aim was to describe international post-secondary students’ perceptions of (1) challenges to attaining food security and (2) consequences of food insecurity on the university experience. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 11 international post-secondary students at the University of Alberta who had food insecurity and who had requested emergency foodhampers from the on-campus food bank. Our results revealed the negative impacts that food insecurity can have on international post-secondary students. Findings underscore the imperative to minimize the occurrence of food insecurity while studying in Alberta, Canada by introducing and enhancing support systems on campus and in the community to enable food security.
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Clinical guidelines support exercise in managing osteoarthritis. Physical activity in immigrants is affected by migration-related factors: acculturation, stress associated with settling in a new country, physical environments, and availability of resources. Other challenges are: competing time demands, cultural norms and behaviours, motivation and lack of peer support. Adult physical inactivity rates are high in Muslim majority countries, especially for Arab Muslims and Muslim women. Barriers to Muslim women participating in leisure physical activity, for example, include gendered norms of behavior, religious interpretations of women’s participation in sports, lack of access to gender-segregated spaces, lack of social support, lack of education on physical activity and competing social obligations. Participants of this research emphasized the importance of physical activity in older age and prioritized the need for physical activity programs. The four themes highlight Muslim older immigrants’ perspectives on physical activity in Canada: (a) values and approaches to staying active, (b) health factors: pain and health limitations, (c) social factors: culture, religion and belonging; and (d) environmental factors: safety and accessibility. Lack of effective strategies for pain management was a major concern for many participants and hindered their ability to engage in both daily living activities and more strenuous forms of exercise and recreation activities. Physical activity in older age is valued by older Muslim immigrants but financial, cultural, and environmental barriers to physical activity warrant intervention. One avenue of promoting physical activity in Muslim older immigrants is the development of local, accessible, and culturally sensitive programming that address both the physical activity, education, and socialization needs of this population. Clinical guidelines support exercise in managing osteoarthritis. Physical activity in immigrants is affected by migration-related factors: acculturation, stress associated with settling in a new country, physical environments, and availability of resources. Other challenges are: competing time demands, cultural norms and behaviours, motivation and lack of peer support. Adult physical inactivity rates are high in Muslim majority countries, especially for Arab Muslims and Muslim women. Barriers to Muslim women participating in leisure physical activity, for example, include gendered norms of behavior, religious interpretations of women’s participation in sports, lack of access to gender-segregated spaces, lack of social support, lack of education on physical activity and competing social obligations. Participants of this research emphasized the importance of physical activity in older age and prioritized the need for physical activity programs. The four themes highlight Muslim older immigrants’ perspectives on physical activity in Canada: (a) values and approaches to staying active, (b) health factors: pain and health limitations, (c) social factors: culture, religion and belonging; and (d) environmental factors: safety and accessibility. Lack of effective strategies for pain management was a major concern for many participants and hindered their ability to engage in both daily living activities and more strenuous forms of exercise and recreation activities. Physical activity in older age is valued by older Muslim immigrants but financial, cultural, and environmental barriers to physical activity warrant intervention. One avenue of promoting physical activity in Muslim older immigrants is the development of local, accessible, and culturally sensitive programming that address both the physical activity, education, and socialization needs of this population.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Effective policies are needed to address the issues of precarious status of migrant workers. The experience of migrant workers is highly structured by the policies and systems in destination countries. In Canada, policy changes have affected the experiences of migrants. We sought to examine the impact of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2015 on migrants in Alberta, one of Canada’s western provinces. The findings of our study reveal that the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada in 2015 restricted the rights of these workers, intensified exploitation, and led to mental health strain for temporary foreign workers and their families. To attend to the marginal status of migrant workers, there is a need to broaden pathways to permanent resident status for low-wage temporary foreign workers in destination countries. Effective policies are needed to address the issues of precarious status of migrant workers. The experience of migrant workers is highly structured by the policies and systems in destination countries. In Canada, policy changes have affected the experiences of migrants. We sought to examine the impact of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2015 on migrants in Alberta, one of Canada’s western provinces. The findings of our study reveal that the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada in 2015 restricted the rights of these workers, intensified exploitation, and led to mental health strain for temporary foreign workers and their families. To attend to the marginal status of migrant workers, there is a need to broaden pathways to permanent resident status for low-wage temporary foreign workers in destination countries.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
The purpose of this study was to determine Quebec population norms from the questionnaire EQ-5D-5L (a self-assessed, health related, quality of life questionnaire). Among people who completed the questionnaire, those with lower scores were those who had a low or high body mass index; were smokers; were single, divorced, or widowed; had no children; were unemployed or sick; had lower education or lower annual income; and had a family or personal history of serious illness. Immigrants had higher scores. There was no difference in gender and urban or rural population. The score logically decreased with worsening health status. Similar results were observed for subjects’ satisfaction with their health or life. Subjects with lower scores were less willing to take risks. Subjects who declared they were affected by health problems presented significant lower utility scores (utility score reflects the level of physical, mental, and social functioning associated with a particular health state and the preference weight the general population gives to that health state). This is the first study to present utility score norms for EQ-5D-5L for the Quebec population. These results will be useful for comparison with quality-adjusted life-year studies to better interpret their results. Moreover, utility norms were provided for 21 health problems, which was rarely done. The purpose of this study was to determine Quebec population norms from the questionnaire EQ-5D-5L (a self-assessed, health related, quality of life questionnaire). Among people who completed the questionnaire, those with lower scores were those who had a low or high body mass index; were smokers; were single, divorced, or widowed; had no children; were unemployed or sick; had lower education or lower annual income; and had a family or personal history of serious illness. Immigrants had higher scores. There was no difference in gender and urban or rural population. The score logically decreased with worsening health status. Similar results were observed for subjects’ satisfaction with their health or life. Subjects with lower scores were less willing to take risks. Subjects who declared they were affected by health problems presented significant lower utility scores (utility score reflects the level of physical, mental, and social functioning associated with a particular health state and the preference weight the general population gives to that health state). This is the first study to present utility score norms for EQ-5D-5L for the Quebec population. These results will be useful for comparison with quality-adjusted life-year studies to better interpret their results. Moreover, utility norms were provided for 21 health problems, which was rarely done.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Following migration from Schistosoma and Strongyloides endemic to non-endemic regions (i.e. Canada), people remain at high risk for complications from these chronic infections. HIV co-infected persons are particularly vulnerable to the serious and potentially fatal consequences of untreated helminth infection. While general screening guidelines exist for parasitic infection screening in immigrant populations, they remain silent on HIV positive populations. This study assessed the seroprevalence, epidemiology and laboratory characteristics of these two parasitic infections in a non-endemic setting in an immigrant/refugee HIV positive community. We argue that routine parasite screening should be included as part of standard HIV care in non-endemic areas. Following migration from Schistosoma and Strongyloides endemic to non-endemic regions (i.e. Canada), people remain at high risk for complications from these chronic infections. HIV co-infected persons are particularly vulnerable to the serious and potentially fatal consequences of untreated helminth infection. While general screening guidelines exist for parasitic infection screening in immigrant populations, they remain silent on HIV positive populations. This study assessed the seroprevalence, epidemiology and laboratory characteristics of these two parasitic infections in a non-endemic setting in an immigrant/refugee HIV positive community. We argue that routine parasite screening should be included as part of standard HIV care in non-endemic areas.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
For vulnerable patients (immigrants or those with low income), it is crucial for pharmacists to be accessible to allow patients benefit from pharmacists’ advanced services, such as independent prescribing. This research examines the geographical relationship between Alberta pharmacists with Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA) and a neighbourhood’s proportion of vulnerable populations. Our research shows that high income areas estimated to have 0.44 more APA pharmacists. Similarly, areas with the highest number of recent immigrants were estimated to have 0.66 more APA pharmacists than other aggregated dissemination areas. A sizable proportion of the Alberta population still does not have access to a pharmacist with APA, and those with APA seem to concentrate in areas with higher income and higher proportions of the population who are immigrants. Future research should examine the utilization of expanded scope of practice in relation to the distribution of vulnerable populations. For vulnerable patients (immigrants or those with low income), it is crucial for pharmacists to be accessible to allow patients benefit from pharmacists’ advanced services, such as independent prescribing. This research examines the geographical relationship between Alberta pharmacists with Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA) and a neighbourhood’s proportion of vulnerable populations. Our research shows that high income areas estimated to have 0.44 more APA pharmacists. Similarly, areas with the highest number of recent immigrants were estimated to have 0.66 more APA pharmacists than other aggregated dissemination areas. A sizable proportion of the Alberta population still does not have access to a pharmacist with APA, and those with APA seem to concentrate in areas with higher income and higher proportions of the population who are immigrants. Future research should examine the utilization of expanded scope of practice in relation to the distribution of vulnerable populations.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
