IADR Abstract Archives
Service Providers and Dental Care of Humanitarian Migrants in Canada
Objectives: To explore the experiences of dentists and social workers regarding the dental care of refugees and asylum seekers (humanitarian migrants) in Quebec, and their suggestions for improving the oral health care of this population.
Methods: Using focused ethnography, we performed individual in-depth interviews (~50 minutes) with a purposeful sample of dentists and social workers. Interviews were English or French, in the office of participants, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participant observation data were collected at mobile dental clinics providing basic care to underserved populations in Montreal. Transcripts and field notes were analyzed using deductive and inductive codes, and ethnographic interpretation. Deductive codes drew upon the Grembowski model of the dental care process
Results: We interviewed twenty participants (11 dentists and 9 social workers). The results focus on three main concepts: 1. Pre-dental care actions and motivations: dentists recognized the difficulties faced by humanitarian migrants and provided pro bono oral health services whenever possible. Social workers used their networks to find dental treatment for humanitarian migrants, however, found limited success. 2. Treatment-related experiences: dentists used interpreters and multi-lingual staff to reduce language barriers, compromised dental treatment because of limited finances and insurance coverage, and did not see missed appoints as a special problem for the population. 3. Proposed solutions: Oral health education, a more inclusive government healthcare policy, and the creation of community clinics were suggested as measures to improve the oral health care of humanitarian migrants.
Conclusions: Dentists and social workers contribute in important ways to facilitating the dental care process of humanitarian migrants. A more inclusive health care policy and oral health education have the potential to improve the oral health of humanitarian migrants.
Methods: Using focused ethnography, we performed individual in-depth interviews (~50 minutes) with a purposeful sample of dentists and social workers. Interviews were English or French, in the office of participants, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participant observation data were collected at mobile dental clinics providing basic care to underserved populations in Montreal. Transcripts and field notes were analyzed using deductive and inductive codes, and ethnographic interpretation. Deductive codes drew upon the Grembowski model of the dental care process
Results: We interviewed twenty participants (11 dentists and 9 social workers). The results focus on three main concepts: 1. Pre-dental care actions and motivations: dentists recognized the difficulties faced by humanitarian migrants and provided pro bono oral health services whenever possible. Social workers used their networks to find dental treatment for humanitarian migrants, however, found limited success. 2. Treatment-related experiences: dentists used interpreters and multi-lingual staff to reduce language barriers, compromised dental treatment because of limited finances and insurance coverage, and did not see missed appoints as a special problem for the population. 3. Proposed solutions: Oral health education, a more inclusive government healthcare policy, and the creation of community clinics were suggested as measures to improve the oral health care of humanitarian migrants.
Conclusions: Dentists and social workers contribute in important ways to facilitating the dental care process of humanitarian migrants. A more inclusive health care policy and oral health education have the potential to improve the oral health of humanitarian migrants.