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Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 2/2011

01-04-2011 | Original Paper

Health Literacy, Language, and Ethnicity-Related Factors in Newcomer Asthma Patients to Canada: A Qualitative Study

Authors: Iraj Poureslami, Irving Rootman, Mary M. Doyle-Waters, Laura Nimmon, J. Mark FitzGerald

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 2/2011

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Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate how asthma patients from new immigrant groups are being informed and educated about asthma and its management, and to identify barriers to knowledge transfer. Four focus groups (n = 29) from Latino, Chinese, Iranian and Punjabi cultural communities were conducted with asthmatic patients in the Greater Vancouver Area. Our results from the focus group discussions can be summarized in four broad areas (a) perceptions of and ways of coping with asthma, (b) perceptions of whether the healthcare system is culturally competent, (c) perceptions of language barriers in regards to accessing the healthcare system, and (d) perceptions of how to access reliable asthma information. The results of this study highlight the importance of diverse cultural beliefs and practices as factors that should be taken into consideration when tailoring interventions to improve asthma outcomes in vulnerable populations, including patients from ethno-cultural communities.
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Metadata
Title
Health Literacy, Language, and Ethnicity-Related Factors in Newcomer Asthma Patients to Canada: A Qualitative Study
Authors
Iraj Poureslami
Irving Rootman
Mary M. Doyle-Waters
Laura Nimmon
J. Mark FitzGerald
Publication date
01-04-2011
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 2/2011
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-010-9405-x

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