Introduction

Immigration plays a significant role in Canada’s population growth, with immigrants representing two-thirds of this growth and accounting for over 20% of the nation’s population (Statistics Canada). As the baby boomer generation ages, elderly immigrants face unique challenges in managing their mental and physical health. However, in addition to these health issues, many aging immigrants also encounter language barriers that hinder their interaction with the healthcare system.

In a recent study published in Drugs and Therapy Perspectives, researcher Dr. Don Thiwanka Wijeratne, along with collaborators from Queen’s University, the University of Toronto, and McGill University, aimed to investigate the impact of language barriers on immigrant health in Canada. Their research focused on the rates of unplanned, emergency hospital visits among long-standing Canadian residents and immigrants, specifically looking at the use of the blood thinner Warfarin among individuals over 65 years of age.

The Impact of Language Barriers on Healthcare Utilization

Dr. Wijeratne‘s team found that older immigrants who had arrived in Canada within the last five years were less likely to seek medical attention for emergency healthcare needs compared to long-standing Canadian residents. Additionally, non-language proficient immigrants were less likely to present to the hospital with unplanned healthcare visits compared to language proficient immigrants.

Language challenges can reinforce systemic and social-cultural barriers to accessing healthcare services, which can lead to poor health outcomes (Dr. Wijeratne). It is crucial to explore the effects of language barriers on immigrant health and healthcare utilization at a population level to optimize healthcare provision.

The “Healthy Immigrant Effect” and Language Barriers

The study also revealed an interesting phenomenon known as the “healthy immigrant effect.” This effect suggests that immigrants, in general, exhibit better health than their Canadian resident counterparts and therefore experience a lower number of health emergencies. The healthy immigrant effect can be attributed to factors such as immigration screening, which favors healthier candidates, and the proactiveness of immigrants in seeking preventive and primary healthcare services. Additionally, many older immigrants are cared for by family members who provide physical care and help them navigate linguistic barriers.

However, the study’s findings regarding non-language proficient immigrants are less encouraging. These individuals, who are not fluent in English or French, were even less likely to present to the hospital with unplanned emergency healthcare visits compared to language proficient immigrants. This indicates a significant lack of linguistic accessibility provisions in hospitals, highlighting the need for improvements in healthcare systems to address these shortcomings.

Addressing Language Barriers in Healthcare

To enhance communication and provide more culturally attuned service provision, healthcare systems should consider implementing ready resources such as interpretation services and increasing the representation of diverse ethnicities among healthcare workers. These measures will facilitate communication in multiple languages and cater to the cultural diversity of the immigrant population.

The Importance of Accurate Language Barrier Measurement

The study also emphasized the need for a better measure of language barriers among Canadian immigrants. Self-reported language barriers at the time of immigration may not accurately reflect persistent language barriers over time. Only 6% of immigrants included in the study reported a persistent language barrier, indicating a low agreement between self-reported measures at the time of immigration and later surveys.

To address this issue, further research is needed to develop more accurate and comprehensive measures of language barriers among Canadian immigrants. This can be achieved by leveraging databases such as the Canadian immigration database, which can be linked to healthcare utilization databases, providing population-level analyses and insights into the unique healthcare needs of non-language proficient immigrants.

What can we as immigrants do to overcome language barriers

1. I will advise to take the initiative and bring an interpreter when possible for any healthcare visit
2. Self-advocate for yourself by insisting on having an interpreter, hospitals have the resources to bring in an interpreter when needed
3. Make sure that at any ER, hospital or doctor’s visit, a summary of actions to be taken is written down for easy reference by family members not present at such visit
4. Always talk to family members and friends about any visit to a health care facility in other to make everything is in order and pick up any problems quicker
5. If you have any family member who has any language barrier, make that some of the above points is followed for any healthcare visit
6. If you are a new immigrant, and you are not yet covered by your province’s healthcare system, you can contact the Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant HealthCare for help. Click here to visit their website.

Conclusion

Language barriers pose significant challenges to immigrants’ access to healthcare services in Canada. While the “healthy immigrant effect” suggests better overall health outcomes for immigrants, the study highlighted the need for improved linguistic accessibility in healthcare settings. By implementing resources such as interpretation services and increasing the representation of diverse ethnicities among healthcare workers, healthcare systems can overcome language barriers and provide culturally sensitive care to immigrant populations.

Accurate measurement of language barriers is essential in understanding the healthcare utilization patterns of immigrants. Further research is necessary to develop better measures that capture persistent language barriers among Canadian immigrants. By addressing these challenges, Canada can ensure that all individuals, regardless of their language proficiency, have equitable access to quality healthcare services.