Canadian Journal of Public Health
Volume 95, Issue 3, 2004, Pages I22-I26

New approaches to immigrant health assessment (Article)

DesMeules M.* , Gold J. , Kazanjian A. , Manuel D. , Payne J. , Vissandjée B. , McDermott S. , Mao Y.
  • a Population Health Assessment Section, Surveillance Risk Assessment Div., Ctr. for Chronic Dis. Prev./Control, 120 Colonnade Road, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0K9, Canada
  • b Population Health Assessment Section, Surveillance Risk Assessment Div., Ctr. for Chronic Dis. Prev./Control, 120 Colonnade Road, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0K9, Canada
  • c Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • d Inst. for Clin. Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ont., Canada
  • e Population Health Assessment Section, Surveillance Risk Assessment Div., Ctr. for Chronic Dis. Prev./Control, 120 Colonnade Road, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0K9, Canada
  • f School of Nursing Sciences, University of Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada
  • g Population Health Assessment Section, Surveillance Risk Assessment Div., Ctr. for Chronic Dis. Prev./Control, 120 Colonnade Road, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0K9, Canada
  • h Population Health Assessment Section, Surveillance Risk Assessment Div., Ctr. for Chronic Dis. Prev./Control, 120 Colonnade Road, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0K9, Canada

Abstract

While immigrant subgroups may present vulnerabilities in terms of health status, health service use, and social determinants, comprehensive information on their health is lacking. To examine mortality (1980-1998) and health service utilization (1985-2002) patterns in Canadian immigrants, a record linkage pan-Canadian research initiative using immigration and health databases has been undertaken. Preliminary results indicate that overall mortality is low among Canadian immigrants as compared to the general population for most leading causes (thus supporting the notion of "healthy immigrant effect"), with cause-specific exceptions. Moreover, results from British Columbia show that overall physician visits are low for immigrants, but not for all subgroups. Results from Ontario demonstrate a sharp increase in physician claims approximately three months following landing. Future analyses will address the short- and long-term health outcomes of immigrant subgroups, including less common diseases. Results are pertinent to practitioners working with immigrants and can inform immigrant health policy.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

doctor patient relation immigrant health care policy human immigration statistics health service data base comparative study health status Humans consultation health services research male Canada female outcomes research medical record Medical Record Linkage population research health services Article health care utilization migration Utilization Review Emigration and Immigration health practitioner mortality
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-3242792690&partnerID=40&md5=377223932132589813bf499aa6c7be9f
ISSN: 00084263
Cited by: 74
Original Language: English