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This book is based on a research paper in Professional International and Intercultural Communication. It provides a description of intercultural barriers that Arab immigrants experience when they access the Canadian Health Care System in Victoria, British Columbia. The study was based on individual interviews (N=25) with Arab immigrants residing in Victoria, British Columbia. Participants were selected by snowball sampling from the Greater Victoria Arab community and interview data was analyzed according to thematic analysis approach. Participants identified intercultural challenges and cross-cultural differences between the Canadian and Arab health care delivery. Intercultural barriers that was mentioned by study participants are captured in four themes: One, the basic philosophy underlying the Canadian health system; two, gender sensitivity issues; third, social support networks; and fourth, trust between Arab patients and Canadian doctors. Participants' suggestions to improve the level of cultural sensitivity in the Canadian Health Care System are solicited
About the author
Hana Al-Bannay was born in Qatif, Saudi Arabia. She obtained M.A. of Professional International and Intercultural Communication from Royal Roads University and Ph.D. of Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of British Columbia in Canada. Her research interests include cross-cultural health communication, and the health of Muslim women.
