Access and utilization of health services by British Columbia's rural Aboriginal population

• Published in: International journal of health care quality assurance incorporating Leadership in health services Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 26 - 31
• Main Authors: Wardman, Dennis, Clement, Ken, Quantz, Darryl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Emerald Group Publishing Limited 2005
• Subjects: Adult; British Columbia - ethnology; Canada; Community; Costs; Ethnic Groups; Feasibility studies; Female; Health administration; Health services; Health Services Accessibility; Health services utilization; Health Services, Indigenous - utilization; Humans; Indians, North American; Interviews; Male; Middle Aged; Native North Americans; Native peoples; Personal health; Polls & surveys; Population; Public health; Questionnaires; Rural areas; Rural Population; Travel; British Columbia; Canada; Health services; Rural areas; Ethnic groups
• ISSN: 1366-0756; 1751-1879; 2051-3135; 1751-1887
• DOI: 10.1108/13660750510594864

Purpose - To provide a picture of the access and use of health services by Aboriginal British Columbians living in both reserve and off-reserve communities.Design methodology approach - This project represents a collaborative effort between the University of British Columbia and multiple Aboriginal community partners. Between June and November 2003, 267 face-to-face interviews were conducted with Aboriginal persons in seven rural community organizations across the province.Findings - This paper reports on the results of a survey of 267 Aboriginal clients. It was found that a substantial number of survey respondents accessed health services provided by an Aboriginal person. Although most respondents felt that services were available, they also identified a number of concerns. These revolved around the need to travel for services, as well as a lack of access to more specialized services. A number of self-reported barriers to service were also identified. These findings have several policy implications and will be useful to service planners.Research limitations implications - Several questions for additional research were identified including the need to establish an inventory of service problem areas and investigating service and benefit policy and community awareness issues.Originality value - This paper provides policy makers with knowledge on the rural Aboriginal population, a population that has faced long standing problems in accessing appropriate health services.