| Factor | Patients statements |
| Access issues | “If we can have access to sources in our own language, we will be better able to get more and relevant information, especially those of us who don’t know English very well”. “It is difficult to access information here, because it is in other languages and if one knows a little bit of English could (sic) just understand some words. I, myself, have to check the dictionary or ask my relatives. I think that is a barrier, the language, I mean. It is complicate (sic)”. “The information I try to access here is very difficult to understand because they were written in English. I normally ask my daughter to translate the information for me”. “I can say majority (sic) of the printed information is in English and the medical terminologies are very difficult for me to understand”. |
| Communication Issues | “I have never received any verbal or written explanation from my doctor and I have never heard about asthma action plan”. “I do not know how to properly use my inhaler. My doctor never showed me how to use it”. “We see a little of negligence from physicians. When one makes a comment about a disease, they think that we are educating them” “My family doctor should make (sic) a good communication with me as a patient from different culture and respects my beliefs, feelings, and traditions”. “I always concern that whether my family doctor is given enough time to me talking about my problem”. “The information provided to me by my doctor was not useful … I felt I couldn’t ask more questions because he was very closed for (sic) further communication”. “The information given by my doctors is verbal instructions, and sometimes is difficult for me to understand”. “I think understanding is more important than speaking with the same language. You may visit a doctor who speaks your home language, but s/he does not completely understand you or communicate properly with you and vice versa”. |
| Language and culture issues | “My primary source of health information is my family doctor. I am satisfied with my doctor because we speak the same language and I trust him”. “The doctor I visited different (sic) times for my condition wasn’t helpful at all for me. I wanted to ask him about the asthma and its symptoms but he was very busy. It wasn’t easy for me to speak with him”. “Some of the information I receive from my doctor are not culturally appropriate”. “…when the specialists explain about healthy or balance (sic) diet, the word health or balance (sic) diet have different meanings for me and are not specifically suitable for Chinese people”. “I want to say that (sic) language barrier is one thing, communication with doctor is something else. I think the information I got from my doctor didn’t fulfill my needs”. “In Canada, I cannot find much information about my asthma condition because of language barrier (sic)”. |
| General concerns | “What are the side-effects from the medications?” “The medications have to be prescribed here and are not selling (sic) over the counter. I remember when we first arrived in Canada we did not have the (sic) medical access card and it was the first barrier to services. I had to bring the medicine in my luggage”. “I am always worried that I would be able to do nothing when I have asthma attack”. “I would like to see that there is a health care system [in Canada] where newcomers who cannot speak English well still receive needed services and help”. |