ArticleBMJ open2019
Opportunities for improving patient experiences among medical travellers from Canada's far north: a mixed-methods study.
Article in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed.
- Experiences of healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic in remote Indigenous communities in Northwest Territories, Canada.International journal of circumpolar health · 2026Article
- Barriers and facilitators to the utilization of cancer screening services in two Arctic Indigenous communities in Canada.Global health action · 2026Article
- Exploring the impacts of the 2023 wildfire evacuations in the Northwest Territories: a grey literature review.International journal of circumpolar health · 2025Review
- Bridging the distance: understanding access to healthcare through stories from Gwich'in medical travellers in Northwest Territories.International journal of circumpolar health · 2025Article
- Challenges faced by health policymakers responding to COVID-19 in remote communities in Northwest Territories, Canada.Health promotion international · 2025Article
- Showing up for no-shows: Why transportation equity matters.Paediatrics & child health · 2025Article
- Oral Health Practices Among Indigenous Mothers and Young Children (0-36 Months) in Northwest Territories, Canada.International journal of dentistry · 2025Article
- Article
- A Scoping Review of the Current Knowledge of the Social Determinants of Health and Infectious Diseases (Specifically COVID-19, Tuberculosis, and H1N1 Influenza) in Canadian Arctic Indigenous Communities.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Review
- Patient healthcare experiences in the Northwest Territories, Canada: an analysis of news media articles.International journal of circumpolar health · 2021Article
- Experiences of Inuit in Canada who travel from remote settings for cancer care and impacts on decision making.BMC health services research · 2021Article
- Global health radiology planning using Geographic Information Systems to identify populations with decreased access to care.Journal of global health · 2021Article
- Barriers to colonoscopy in remote northern Canada: an analysis of cancellations.International journal of circumpolar health · 2020Article
- Delays in presentation, severity of illness, and adverse surgical outcomes among patients transferred from Nunavik for acute care surgery.Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgieArticle
- Indigenous mothers' perspectives on improving maternal healthcare in Northwest Territories, Canada: Results from the Maternal and Infant Health Project.Women's health (London, England)Article
- Indigenous women's experiences of prenatal stress and support during pregnancy and childbirth in Northwest Territories: Findings from the Maternal and Infant Health Project.Women's health (London, England)Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThis paper explores patient experiences and identifies barriers and opportunities for improving access to healthcare for patients from the Canadian north who travel to receive medical care in a Southern province.
designA mixed-methods, cross-sectional study involved one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews.
participants52 one-on-one interviews with Northwest Territories (NWT) patients and patient escorts and two focus group discussions (n=10). Fourteen key informant interviews were conducted with health workers, programme managers and staff of community organisations providing services for out-of-province patients. A Community Advisory Board guided the development of the questionnaires and interpretation of results.
resultsRespondents were satisfied with the care received overall, but described unnecessary burdens and bureaucratic challenges throughout the travel process. Themes relating to access to healthcare included: plans and logistics for travel; level of communication between services; clarity around jurisdiction and responsibility for care; indirect costs of travel and direct costs of uninsured services; and having a patient escort or advocate available to assist with appointments and navigate the system. Three themes related to healthcare experiences included: cultural awareness, respect and caring, and medical translation. Respondents provided suggestions to improve access to care.
conclusionsPatients from NWT need more information and support before and during travel. Ensuring that medical travellers and escorts are prepared before departing, that healthcare providers engage in culturally appropriate communication and connecting travellers to support services on arrival have the potential to improve medical travel experiences.
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