Article Text
Abstract
Research in the US particularly has contributed to a lot of what is known about the difficulties that linguistic minorities face in accessing and using health services. Studies need to be conducted in Canada to refine and improve knowledge on the matter. The literature is virtually unanimous that seniors do not enjoy the same level of health as the general population. Canadian studies have found that the health status of seniors declines with increasing age as more health issues are reported. This has also been linked to health services use by seniors aged 65 and over accounting for over 47% of total healthcare cost increase. The 2006 Canadian post-census Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities (SVOLM) carried out by Statistics Canada is used as well as the 2007 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). The SVOLM helps assess factors associated with the self-rated health of minority Francophone seniors. The CCHS helps complement the SVOLM and allows for comparability with the general population. Descriptive, univariate and multivariable analyses such as ordinary and binary logistic regression are carried out. Through a social marketing approach, the results of the quantitative analyses (which are currently being carried out) will help engage dialogue with the community, educators, policy makers, health practitioners, and the healthcare system in order to help inform and shape policy with regards to health services access and utilisation in the province of Saskatchewan, particularly in the Saskatoon Health Region.