Three in four South Asians in British Columbia live within the Fraser Health (FH) region. South Asians in Canada experience higher rates of chronic disease compared to the general Canadian population. These health disparities may be due, in part, to the ways in which social and environmental factors impact health and contribute to health inequities.
Virtual care services involve the delivery of health services through remote technologies (e.g., telephone, video calls, internet). Virtual care has the potential to improve healthcare access for marginalized populations; yet, South Asians in Canada are less likely to use virtual care services. They also face significant barriers in accessing culturally appropriate services. There is a need to develop and implement more equitable policies and virtual care services to improve access and reduce disparities.
This study aims to understand the barriers to, and facilitators of, virtual care services faced by South Asians in the FH region to help inform the development of more equitable and accessible virtual care solutions within FH.