Capstone Preparation Research Proposal & Assignment Summary Answer

Task 1: Research Proposal

What contemporary Canadian healthcare topic, problem, or issue are you interested in?

The issue regarding the barriers that the indigenous people of Canada in attaining primary care is one of the important yet disregarded. The healthcare outcomes for Indigenous communities in Canada are frequently very different from those for non-Indigenous groups, despite the country's universal healthcare system. These gaps in healthcare access and quality have their roots in historical, social, and systemic issues.

Why is your group interested in this topic/question?

The issue concerning the obstacles faced by Indigenous populations in Canada when accessing primary care is of paramount significance, necessitating thorough discourse owing to its profound ramifications on the health and overall well-being of Indigenous communities. Attaining a comprehensive understanding of these barriers assumes critical importance to rectify the entrenched systemic inequities and disparities prevalent in healthcare access and outcomes. Discussions on this subject help to increase public understanding of the historical and current injustices experienced by Indigenous communities. The history of colonization, the use of forceful assimilation practices, and the ongoing marginalization of Indigenous peoples are all made clear by this revelation.

Why does this topic matter today? Explain and provide a rationale.

In Canada, there are still significant health outcomes gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. These disparities include increased rates of chronic illness prevalence, issues with mental health, neonatal mortality, and shorter life expectancies. The persistence of these discrepancies is significantly aided by the dearth of primary care services. To improve the health and general well-being of Indigenous people and communities and advance the goal of health equity, barriers to primary care must be identified and eliminated. To remove these obstacles and improve accessibility, it is crucial to improve services and build community capacity while taking into account the viewpoints and views of Indigenous populations (Nguyen et al., 2020). To acknowledge and address these historical injustices, removing the obstacles to basic care is essential since it shows a commitment to Indigenous peoples' rights and well-being (Henderson et al., 2018). The possibility to bring up and confront the cultural prejudices and biases that exist inside the healthcare system is provided by talks on this subject. It is possible to promote larger social and policy changes that can have a positive influence on Indigenous health outcomes by acknowledging and addressing the primary care access constraints.

Do some background research to find out more about your topic. Share current literature.*Include your 3 article summaries in this section

The research conducted by Horrill et al., (2018) explores the barriers to accessing healthcare for Indigenous peoples from both biomedical and postcolonial perspectives. The authors contend that addressing the historical and ongoing effects of colonization on Indigenous people is necessary to comprehend the obstacles to healthcare access. The postcolonial viewpoint, which emphasizes the structural and systemic elements that lead to healthcare inequality, is contrasted with the prevalent biomedical perspective, which tends to focus on individual-level variables. The article identifies several obstacles to Indigenous peoples' access to healthcare. Geographical isolation is a significant obstacle that might restrict the accessibility and availability of healthcare services in rural and remote Indigenous communities. In healthcare settings, indigenous peoples may experience prejudice, bigotry, or a lack of cultural sensitivity.

A similar study conducted by Nelson & Wilson (2018) examines the difficulties that Indigenous people in Prince George, Canada, have in receiving healthcare through the eyes of cultural safety and ethical space. The authors stress the need of comprehending Indigenous people's experiences when seeking medical care and underline the idea of cultural safety. The absence of cultural safety in healthcare interactions is a serious impediment. Indigenous people reported encounters with racism, discrimination, and cultural insensitivity that created a hostile environment and made it difficult for them to get quality medical care.

What specific aspect of the topic are you interested in? Break down topics and group ideas in clusters(use reverse)

Socioeconomic factors, particularly racial discrimination and social isolation are important aspects on which focus needs to be given. Indigenous people frequently experience racial prejudice in the healthcare system, both overtly and covertly. Indigenous people may experience systematic racism, prejudice, and stereotyping, which can lead to unfair treatment, carelessness, or dismissal of their health issues. This discrimination may exacerbate existing barriers to timely and appropriate primary care access and contribute to a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes. The topic can be broken down into access to healthcare, social determinants acting as barriers, healthcare system factors along with cultural factors as well.

List a few possible research questions about your specific topic area. Ask: What? Who? When? Where? Why? How?

• What particular obstacles must Indigenous people in Canada overcome to obtain primary care services?
• What effects do racism and social isolation have on Indigenous peoples' access to primary care?
• Who are the key players in resolving the issues surrounding the primary care access obstacles for Indigenous peoples and how they have developed policies to improve Indigenous peoples' access to healthcare services?
• When did these obstacles start to appear, and how did they change over time?
• Why do discrepancies in primary care accessibility between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Canada endure, and what are the fundamental systemic factors that contribute to these discrepancies?

Choose one to be your main research question./Why or How/questions are best

What effects do racism and social isolation have on Indigenous peoples' access to primary care is the main research question for the scope of the present research proposal.

By comprehending how these factors impact healthcare access, one can gain insights into the barriers i.e. racism and social exclusion, that Indigenous individuals and communities face in obtaining adequate primary care services.

How do you believe your research/area of focus will positively impact the current Canadian healthcare landscape?

By comprehending the effects of these determinants, this area of research will bring awareness and understanding of the systemic barriers and disparities that exist. It can assist in causing awareness among healthcare professionals, stakeholders, and the general public. By addressing this question, improved healthcare delivery can be achieved, as medical professionals will become more culturally sensitive towards the indigenous population.

References

Nguyen, N. H., Subhan, F. B., Williams, K., & Chan, C. B. (2020, April). Barriers and mitigating strategies to healthcare access in indigenous communities of Canada: A narrative review. In Healthcare (Vol. 8, No. 2, p. 112). MDPI. 10.3390/healthcare8020112

Henderson, R., Montesanti, S., Crowshoe, L., & Leduc, C. (2018). Advancing Indigenous primary health care policy in Alberta, Canada. Health Policy, 122(6), 638-644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.04.014

Horrill, T., McMillan, D. E., Schultz, A. S., & Thompson, G. (2018). Understanding access to healthcare among Indigenous peoples: A comparative analysis of biomedical and postcolonial perspectives. Nursing Inquiry, 25(3), e12237. 10.1111/nin.12237

Nelson, S. E., & Wilson, K. (2018). Understanding barriers to health care access through cultural safety and ethical space: Indigenous people's experiences in Prince George, Canada. Social Science & Medicine, 218, 21-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.09.017\

Task 2: Assignment Summary

McLane, P., Mackey, L., Holroyd, B. R., Fitzpatrick, K., Healy, C., Rittenbach, K., .&Barnabe, C. (2022). Impacts of racism on First Nations patients' emergency care: results of a thematic analysis of healthcare provider interviews in Alberta, Canada. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1-18.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08129-5

The study conducted by McLane et al., (2022) aims at assessing the impact that racism has on the First Nation's patients while accessing emergency care. This study tries to explore the perception that healthcare providers have regarding the care of First Nations patients. The authors have carried out a thematic analysis as a method for comprehending the results. The methodology employed for the scope of the present study was semi-structured interviews between the nurses and physicians at the Alberta emergency department (ED) to comprehend the perception regarding the racism that is experienced by First Nations patients. The study employs a qualitative approach, analyzing interviews conducted with healthcare providers to gain insights into the nature and consequences of racism in healthcare settings.

The First Nations Indigenous people are the large number of Indigenous people residing in Canada and belong to two groups Inuit and Métis. In Canada, the indigenous people are subjected to a high degree of violence. This paper centers its attention on the phenomenon of racism and its implications for First Nations patients seeking emergency care services in the province of Alberta, Canada. The researchers engaged in a qualitative approach by conducting interviews with healthcare providers who possessed firsthand experience in working with First Nations individuals. The objective of the study was to investigate the viewpoints of these providers, specifically examining their observations regarding racism within healthcare settings, as well as its consequences on the provision of care.

The authors identify racism as conceptualized as a comprehensive framework encompassing the structures, policies, practices, and societal norms that lead to unequal access to resources, services, and opportunities based on racial categorization. The researchers highlighted the existence of pervasive racism within the healthcare system, characterized by discriminatory practices such as the perpetuation of stereotypes, stigmatization, and biased presumptions regarding First Nations patients. These biases had detrimental effects on the quality of care provided and strained the relationships between patients and healthcare providers.

For the scope of the study, the researchers employed a theoretical sampling. Variation within the sample was also sought by including both male and female participants with experience in rural, urban, and remote emergency care sites. Sites in rural areas outside of Alberta's two major cities were picked based on their proximity to partner nations and the percentage of First Nations patients who visited those locations. While the report concentrates on provider interviews, the overall study also included sharing circles with members of the First Nations community and interviews with First Nations health directors. First Nations doctors and nurses were explicitly sought out to serve as key informants and team members made direct contact with them through their professional contacts. All participants got letters outlining the study, had a chance to inquire, and gave their informed consent.

After the analysis of the data it was visualized that providers discussed racism and stereotyping, how the emergency department (ED) environment interacts with patient care expectations, power imbalances, their attitudes, and their efforts to overcome racism, as well as the systemic impediments they encountered when delivering emergency treatment to First Nations patients. All medical professionals agreed that racism and stereotypes exist in EDs.

After the interviews, it was analyzed that most professionals consider indigenous people as dangerous and have negative perceptions associated with them. Discrimination and unequal access to care were prominent in attaining primary care. Some healthcare professionals were aware of past wrongs and systematic racism, but they weren't sure how to confront these concerns in their daily work. One prevalent assumption is that patients from First Nations communities do not need emergency treatment and that their visits to the ED are unnecessary or improper. Even before First Nations patients enter the emergency department, this presumption affects how clinicians view and handle them. The bias or presumption among service providers that First Nations parents are incapable of providing for their children was also associated with racism towards them. This prejudice may result in unfavorable assessments of their parenting skills and assumptions, which may have an impact on how their children are treated or the level of care offered. Along with this interpersonal racism was acknowledged by healthcare professionals in their interactions with patients of First Nations. They saw alterations in their coworkers' demeanor, tone of voice, and expressions of hostility towards these patients. Lack of patience, preconceived notions, and hasty judgment was found to be obstacles to providing First Nations patients with respectful and competent care.

It can be visualized from this study that the failure to satisfy the healthcare needs of First Nations patients and structural impediments to getting emergency care were seen by ED clinicians. First Nations patients encountered police and Children's Services personnel who might have an impact on their lives beyond the ED visit, as well as disdain, overt prejudice, and even force. The study emphasizes the predominance of professional prejudices about First Nations patients, notably around substance abuse and improper use of healthcare resources. First Nations patients suffer as a result of the interactions between these prejudices and healthcare practitioners' efforts to categorize patients and distribute treatment resources. Incorporating equity-oriented healthcare practices, such as culturally safe care, trauma- and violence-informed care, may assist in reducing racism experienced by First Nations people. System-level changes need to be made. address social determinants of First Nations health, making accreditation contingent on anti-racism and anti-colonialism plans, and measurable efforts to address racism

You Might Also Like

Research Paper Writing Services

How to Write a Research Proposal?