| As immigrants represent a growing proportion of the Canadian population, understanding their health care needs and experiences becomes imperative to facilitate their successful integration into society. This study explores the impact of patient perceptions of healthcare provider cultural competence on health-related quality of life (QOL) and health care satisfaction among an immigrant population in Southwestern Ontario. A sample of 117 new immigrant participants completed a cross-sectional survey which included a demographic questionnaire, the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Cultural Competency (CAHPS-CC) Item Set, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). Stepwise linear regression analyses were conducted to identify which variables predicted health-related QOL and satisfaction with care among participants. Study findings suggest that three aspects of cultural competence were predictive of health-related QOL: experiences of discrimination, interpreter use, and overall trust in provider. Age, education, and number of children were also predictive of health-related QOL. Health care satisfaction was predicted by: patient-provider communication, overall trust in provider, experiences of discrimination, and education. Overall, experiences of discrimination were most predictive of QOL among participants. These experiences significantly impacted psychological, social, and environmental aspects of QOL. Future research should consider utilizing qualitative or mixed methods approaches to gain more insight into how culturally competent care impacts the health and well-being of newcomer populations. |
