Multicultural Health Fair-Panel Discussion#3


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				Powerpoint Presentation of Dr.Arminee Kazanjian
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	( Arminee Kazanjian - Video Total Time: 5 min 38 sec )

Summary Notes

Dr. Arminée Kazanjian presented an overview of the Rethinking Disparities in Health Services Utilization by Immigrants, a national project on immigrant health and health care utilization in Canada. This project, funded by Canadian Population Health Initiative is set to investigate the patterns of immigrants' health and health utilization and compare these patterns with the Canadian population in general. A model of immigrant health surveillance is expected as an outcome. The impetus for reviewing the health utilization and health of immigrants was to measure if current health services are appropriate, culturally relevant and equitable. The Rethinking Disparities project asked three central questions:

1. Are immigrants receiving appropriate care?
2. Could we identify socio-cultural aspects of health care use?
3. How does health system organization affect immigrant access to care?

While the project has not yet concluded some interesting project data results have come to light. The findings to date are:

. Health policies & services need to consider differential patterns of health and health service utilization by immigrant sub-groups
. Differences in immigrant health shed light on general determinants & risk factors
. Barriers to health care can be identified
. Programs should focus on maintaining the health status of new immigrants
. More services for all immigrants is not always better - Clearly defined health needs for specific population groups
. Important role of ethno-cultural communities - support change in attitudes and behavior where it improves the health of the community
. System structure can be a hindrance or a help - inter-provincial differences sometimes overshadow differences between immigrants and controls

Suggestions for systemic change

. Evidence-based, specific & well-defined messages to health policy officials are more likely to be heard and acted on.

. Ethno-cultural communities contribute in two ways:
- Fostering preventive practices that may not be traditional
- Communicating culture-specific health behaviour to health care providers in the mainstream