91探花

At a time when Canada鈥檚 health care system is under siege from increased wait times and doctor shortages, researchers in the Atlantic provinces want to find out why so many trained professionals who have immigrated from other countries are unable to practise their profession in Canada. Now a research study entitled Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) on PEI: Why They Come, Why They Stay, and the Challenges They Face will look at the issue.

One of four parallel studies now under way in the Atlantic provinces, the study is being undertaken by Dr Godfrey Baldacchino, Canada Research Chair in Island Studies at 91探花, in full collaboration with the PEI Association of Newcomers to Canada (PEI-ANC). The study is also supported by the PEI Health Sector Council and the PEI Health Research Institute.

The purpose of this project is to better understand the complex concerns and challenges that internationally educated health professionals have about coming to and staying on Prince Edward Island,鈥� says Dr. Baldacchino, who has carried out a survey of recent settlers to PEI for the province鈥檚 Population Secretariat in 2005. 鈥淭his is being done initially through a web-based, anonymous questionnaire survey, available in either English or French. It will be followed by one-on-one interviews.鈥� Records suggest that there are around 60 IEHPs living on Prince Edward Island right now, and almost half of these may not be working in the health sector, for a variety of reasons.

With financial support from Health Canada via the IEHP Atlantic Connection, the study supports Health Canada鈥檚 mandate to deliver on the First Ministers鈥� 10-Year Plan to reduce wait times and increase the supply of health professionals in the Canadian health care system. For the purpose of this study, an IEHP is defined as anyone (including a Canadian) who has received health profession education and/or training in a country other than Canada and who is now living (but not necessarily practicing in the health sector) on PEI.

The study concerns physicians, registered and licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, dental hygienists and assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, medical laboratory technologists, radiologists and other medical specialists, psychologists and psychiatrists. Associations and bodies representing such health professionals can help support this timely study by encouraging any of their members who have their qualifications from outside Canada to participate 鈥� without, however, any obligation to do so. All respondents are guaranteed full anonymity and confidentiality, unless they choose to reveal their identity. The survey will be concluded at the end of September.

鈥淭his study is being complemented by a case-by-case approach with another IEHP project directed by the PEI-ANC, which involves delivering two courses: English for the Health Professions and Orientation to the Canadian and PEI Healthcare System,鈥� says Kevin Arsenault, Executive Director of the PEI-ANC. 鈥淭his approach is especially useful to identify and develop suitable pathways for bridging learning or training gaps for those who have had professional training in the health sector outside Canada. We are helping to develop customized practical solutions to the situations that come to our attention, in collaboration with the professional bodies concerned.鈥� Michelle Hood is the officer-in-charge of the IEHP program at the PEI-ANC.

Policy and program recommendations emerging from the survey results 鈥� and those emerging from parallel studies in the rest of Atlantic Canada 鈥� should help to inform any initiatives to attract, retain, and improve the work conditions of health professionals in the province and region.

This research exercise has been reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Board (REB) at the University of Prince Edward Island. Please contact Lynn MacPhee at the REB (tel: 902-566-0637; e-mail:lmacphee@upei.ca) for any questions about this study.

For survey details, including access, please contact Godfrey Baldacchino at 91探花 (tel: 902-566-0909; e-mail: gbaldacchino@upei.ca) or Michelle Hood at the PEI-ANC (tel: (902) 628-6009; e-mail: michelleh@peianc.com).