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. 2021 Sep;32(5):508-517.
doi: 10.1177/1043659620967441. Epub 2020 Oct 23.

Exploring the Impact of Health Care Provider Cultural Competence on New Immigrant Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study of Canadian Newcomers

Afef Zghal  1 , Maher El-Masri  2 , Suzanne McMurphy  1 , Kathryn Pfaff  1
Affiliations

Exploring the Impact of Health Care Provider Cultural Competence on New Immigrant Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study of Canadian Newcomers

Afef Zghal et al. J Transcult Nurs. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: New immigrants underutilize health care because of multiple barriers. Although culturally competent health care improves access, it is typically assessed by providers, not newcomers whose perceptions matter most.

Methodology: Surveys that included measures of cultural competence and health-related quality of life (QOL) were completed by 117 new immigrants in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. A series of stepwise linear regression analyses were conducted to identify independent predictors of QOL and its four domains: physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environment.

Results: Our adjusted results suggest that experiences of discrimination was negatively associated with overall QOL (β = -.313; p < .001) and its psychological (β = -.318; p < .001), social (β = -.177; p = .048), and environmental (β = -.408; p < .001) domains.

Discussion: Discrimination negatively influences new immigrant QOL. Provider cultural competency training should emphasize the influence of provider discrimination on immigrant health and explore learners' values and biases.

Keywords: cultural competence; health disparities; new immigrants; survey design; transcultural health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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