2-1-1 Toronto: Lessons Learnt About Newcomers’ Access to Health Information

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Cortinois ◽  
Richard Glazier ◽  
Nadia Caidi ◽  
Gavin Andrews ◽  
Mary Herbert-Copley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Soins De Santé ◽  
Phone Survey ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Nouveaux Arrivants

This study examines the importance of access to information as an enabler of access to health care by newcomers to Canada. Specifically, we focus on the role played by the 2-1-1 Toronto service through a 2005 phone survey and face-to-face qualitative interviews with 2-1-1 Toronto callers in 2006-2007.Cette étude examine l’importance de l’accès à l’information comme moteur de l’accès aux soins de santé par les nouveaux arrivants au Canada. Plus précisément, nous nous attardons sur le rôle que joue le service 2-1-1 Toronto au moyen d’entrevues téléphoniques effectuées en 2005 et d’entrevues qualitatives en personne avec des appelants du service 2-1-1 Toronto en 2006-2007.

scholarly journals Digital Health and Inequalities in Access to Health Services in Bangladesh: Mixed Methods Study

10.2196/16473 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e16473
Author(s):  
Tanvir Ahmed ◽  
Syed Jafar Raza Rizvi ◽  
Sabrina Rasheed ◽  
Mohammad Iqbal ◽  
Abbas Bhuiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Technical Skill ◽  
Integrating Technology ◽  
Access To Health

Background Globally, the rapid growth of technology and its use as a development solution has generated much interest in digital health. In line with global trends, Bangladesh is also integrating technology into its health system to address disparities. Strong political endorsement and uptake of digital platforms by the government has influenced the rapid proliferation of such initiatives in the country. This paper aims to examine the implications of digital health on access to health care in Bangladesh, considering who uses electronic devices to access health information and services and why. Objective This study aims to understand how access to health care and related information through electronic means (digital health) is affected by sociodemographic determinants (ie, age, gender, education, socioeconomic status, and personal and household ownership of mobile phones) in a semiurban community in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 854 households (between October 2013 and February 2014) and 20 focus group discussions (between February 2017 and March 2017) were conducted to understand (1) who owns electronic devices; (2) who, among the owners, uses these to access health information and services and why; (3) the awareness of electronic sources of health information; and (4) the role of intermediaries (family members or peers who helped to look for health information using electronic devices). Results A total of 90.3% (771/854) of households (471/854, 55.2% of respondents) owned electronic devices, mostly mobile phones. Among these, 7.2% (34/471) used them to access health information or services. Middle-aged (35-54 years), female, less (or not) educated, and poorer people used these devices the least (α=.05, α is the level of significance). The lack of awareness, discomfort, differences with regular care-seeking habits, lack of understanding and skills, and proximity to a health facility were the main reasons for not using devices to access digital health. Conclusions Although influenced by sociodemographic traits, access to digital health is not merely related to device ownership and technical skill. Rather, it is a combination of general health literacy, phone ownership, material resources, and technical skill as well as social recognition of health needs and inequity. This study’s findings should serve as a basis for better integrating technology within the health system and ensuring equitable access to health care.

scholarly journals Improving access to multilingual health information for newcomers to Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Gallo Stampino
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Immigrant And Refugee

Canada's immigrant and refugee population is a vulnerable group in our health care system with specific information needs. Newcomers to Canada face certain socioeconomic, cultural–linguistic, and systemic barriers to access to health care that government, social agencies, and health care organizations work to overcome. To address some of the communication barriers, many health organizations develop information resources such as online brochures and education handouts. Several organizations offer specifically tailored multilingual publications to meet newcomers' information needs and write them using cross-cultural approaches. However, multilingual health information may be hard to locate and is not readily available through major Canadian consumer Web sites. This article discusses the advantages of sharing multilingual publications online and asks whether a central portal or repository is a possible solution for making publications more widely available across Canada.

scholarly journals Indigenous Mothers’ Use of Web- and App-Based Information Sources to Support Healthy Parenting and Infant Health in Canada: Interpretive Description

10.2196/16145 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e16145
Author(s):  
Amy Lynn Wright ◽  
Rachel VanEvery ◽  
Vicky Miller
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Interpretive Description ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Sources Of Health Information

Background Web-based sources of health information are widely used by parents to support healthy parenting and aid in decision making about their infants’ health. Although fraught with challenges such as misinformation, if used appropriately, web-based resources can improve access to health education and promote healthy choices. How Indigenous mothers use web-based information to support their parenting and infants’ health has not yet been investigated; however, web-based modalities may be important methods for mitigating the reduced access to health care and negative health care interactions that many Indigenous people are known to experience. Objective This study aims to understand the experience of Indigenous mothers who use web-based information to support the health of their infants. Methods This interpretive description qualitative study used semistructured interviews and a discussion group to understand how Indigenous mothers living in Hamilton, Ontario and caring for an infant aged <2 years experienced meeting the health needs of their infants. The data presented reflect their experiences of using web-based sources of health information to support their infants’ health. The Two-Eyed Seeing approach was applied to the study design, which ensured that both western and Indigenous worldviews were considered throughout. Results A total of 19 Indigenous mothers participated in this study. The resulting 4 themes included distrusting information, staying anonymous, using visual information to support decision making, and accessing a world of experiences. Although fewer Indigenous mothers used web-based sources of information compared to mothers in the general population in other studies, tailoring web-based modalities to meet the unique needs of Indigenous mothers is an important opportunity for supporting the health and wellness of both mothers and infants. Conclusions Web-based information sources are commonly used among parents, and ever-evolving web-based technologies make this information increasingly available and accessible. Tailoring web-based modalities to meet the unique preferences and needs of Indigenous mothers is an important method for improving their access to reliable and accurate health care information, thereby supporting healthy parenting and promoting infant health.

Ethics of Telepsychiatry

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo J. Perez-Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
High Definition ◽  
Broadband Internet ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Clinical Vignettes ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
History Of

Recent technological advances have led to the use of telemedicine as way to increase access to health care to those who have limited resources. Telepsychiatry, also called telemental health, involves the delivery of mental health care over long distances through the use of videoconferencing equipment. The increasing accessibility of broadband internet have allowed this technology to reach more parts of the world, while the increasing sophistication of equipment such as high definition televisions and remote-controlled webcams has allowed this technology to feel less impersonal. This chapter discusses the history of telepsychiatry and different examples of how such technology is used and in which sorts of situations it can be employed. The chapter also examines the ethical issues that arise in telepsychiatry and reviews some of the literature that is currently available, focusing on the four ethical principles of medicine. Clinical vignettes are used both to highlight potential dilemmas that can arise through the technology as well as to demonstrate how in certain situations, the technology can potentially be more beneficial than face-to-face assessments.

scholarly journals Indigenous Mothers’ Use of Web- and App-Based Information Sources to Support Healthy Parenting and Infant Health in Canada: Interpretive Description (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Lynn Wright ◽  
Rachel VanEvery ◽  
Vicky Miller
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Interpretive Description ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Sources Of Health Information

BACKGROUND Web-based sources of health information are widely used by parents to support healthy parenting and aid in decision making about their infants’ health. Although fraught with challenges such as misinformation, if used appropriately, web-based resources can improve access to health education and promote healthy choices. How Indigenous mothers use web-based information to support their parenting and infants’ health has not yet been investigated; however, web-based modalities may be important methods for mitigating the reduced access to health care and negative health care interactions that many Indigenous people are known to experience. OBJECTIVE This study aims to understand the experience of Indigenous mothers who use web-based information to support the health of their infants. METHODS This interpretive description qualitative study used semistructured interviews and a discussion group to understand how Indigenous mothers living in Hamilton, Ontario and caring for an infant aged &lt;2 years experienced meeting the health needs of their infants. The data presented reflect their experiences of using web-based sources of health information to support their infants’ health. The Two-Eyed Seeing approach was applied to the study design, which ensured that both western and Indigenous worldviews were considered throughout. RESULTS A total of 19 Indigenous mothers participated in this study. The resulting 4 themes included distrusting information, staying anonymous, using visual information to support decision making, and accessing a world of experiences. Although fewer Indigenous mothers used web-based sources of information compared to mothers in the general population in other studies, tailoring web-based modalities to meet the unique needs of Indigenous mothers is an important opportunity for supporting the health and wellness of both mothers and infants. CONCLUSIONS Web-based information sources are commonly used among parents, and ever-evolving web-based technologies make this information increasingly available and accessible. Tailoring web-based modalities to meet the unique preferences and needs of Indigenous mothers is an important method for improving their access to reliable and accurate health care information, thereby supporting healthy parenting and promoting infant health. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Digital Health and Inequalities in Access to Health Services in Bangladesh: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanvir Ahmed ◽  
Syed Jafar Raza Rizvi ◽  
Sabrina Rasheed ◽  
Mohammad Iqbal ◽  
Abbas Bhuiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Technical Skill ◽  
Integrating Technology ◽  
Access To Health

BACKGROUND Globally, the rapid growth of technology and its use as a development solution has generated much interest in digital health. In line with global trends, Bangladesh is also integrating technology into its health system to address disparities. Strong political endorsement and uptake of digital platforms by the government has influenced the rapid proliferation of such initiatives in the country. This paper aims to examine the implications of digital health on access to health care in Bangladesh, considering who uses electronic devices to access health information and services and why. OBJECTIVE This study aims to understand how access to health care and related information through electronic means (digital health) is affected by sociodemographic determinants (ie, age, gender, education, socioeconomic status, and personal and household ownership of mobile phones) in a semiurban community in Bangladesh. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 854 households (between October 2013 and February 2014) and 20 focus group discussions (between February 2017 and March 2017) were conducted to understand (1) who owns electronic devices; (2) who, among the owners, uses these to access health information and services and why; (3) the awareness of electronic sources of health information; and (4) the role of intermediaries (family members or peers who helped to look for health information using electronic devices). RESULTS A total of 90.3% (771/854) of households (471/854, 55.2% of respondents) owned electronic devices, mostly mobile phones. Among these, 7.2% (34/471) used them to access health information or services. Middle-aged (35-54 years), female, less (or not) educated, and poorer people used these devices the least (α=.05, α is the level of significance). The lack of awareness, discomfort, differences with regular care-seeking habits, lack of understanding and skills, and proximity to a health facility were the main reasons for not using devices to access digital health. CONCLUSIONS Although influenced by sociodemographic traits, access to digital health is not merely related to device ownership and technical skill. Rather, it is a combination of general health literacy, phone ownership, material resources, and technical skill as well as social recognition of health needs and inequity. This study’s findings should serve as a basis for better integrating technology within the health system and ensuring equitable access to health care.

Using Technology to Improve Access to Health Care for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline A. Mashima
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Improve Access

Important initiatives in health care include (a) improving access to services for disadvantaged populations, (b) providing equal access for individuals with limited or non-English proficiency, and (c) ensuring cultural competence of health-care providers to facilitate effective services for individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, 2001). This article provides a brief overview of the use of technology by speech-language pathologists and audiologists to extend their services to underserved populations who live in remote geographic areas, or when cultural and linguistic differences impact service delivery.

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