The goal of this component of a multi-phase sequential study was to determine the knowledge gap of primary healthcare providers, including physiotherapists, in the delivery of collaborative health care services to persons with refugee status and newcomers in Manitoba, Canada.
A mixed methods exploratory sequential design was utilized to explore access to quality healthcare from both refugee and healthcare provider perspectives. Qualitative data was used to inform the development of an on-line survey using the Qualtrics platform (Qualtrics, Provo, UT, 2020) which was then widely distributed among healthcare providers by their regulatory bodies, including physiotherapists, pharmacists, physicians, and nurses. Results were then analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Ninety-nine healthcare providers responded to the open survey, the majority of whom self-identified as physiotherapists (31.3%, n=31). The frequency with which physiotherapists reported seeing patients with refugee status varied widely, from never (41%), to one to two times per month (32%), three to five times per month (9%), or they didn’t know (18%). Common barriers to the provision of physiotherapy care included finances, language, transportation, access and cultural factors. Only 14% of physiotherapist respondents were familiar with the relevant federal health program that facilitates access to care and services in Canada. Close to 84% of physiotherapists reported that they would like to learn more about providing appropriate care to persons with refugee status.
These findings reveal common challenges for physiotherapists in providing quality healthcare to persons holding refugee status. Most notably, physiotherapists are unfamiliar with the health programmes available and would like to learn more.
Results of this study can inform the development of physiotherapy curriculum in quality healthcare provision for persons with refugee status across Canada and beyond.
refugee
health
