Immigrants' Experience of Navigating eHealthcare Tools in Canada: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Services Research
• Immigration and Health

Background:

• Healthcare access in Canada is evolving with eHealth tools.
• Research on immigrant usage of eHealth services is limited.
• Occupational therapists advocate for immigrant access to eHealth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To overview services, barriers, and facilitators for immigrants navigating eHealth in Canada.
• To identify gaps and provide recommendations for improving eHealth accessibility for immigrants.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of published and grey literature from 2013-2024.
• Searched academic databases and grey literature sources.
• Included 13 manuscripts after screening 296 articles.

Main Results:

• Identified three key themes: COVID-19's impact on mental health, social determinants of eHealth, and online information-seeking behaviors.
• Revealed critical gaps in the Canadian health system hindering immigrant access to eHealth.
• Highlighted the need for tailored interventions and policies.

Conclusions:

• Collaboration among stakeholders, including occupational therapists, is essential for equitable eHealth access.
• Further research is needed for culturally sensitive and linguistically accessible eHealth tools.
• Occupational therapists are crucial in advocating for and facilitating immigrant access to eHealth services.