Global Migration and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Examining Health Literacy among Immigrant Populations | MS Research Studies - MS Society of Canada

Studies

Study Title: Global Migration and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Examining Health Literacy among Immigrant Populations
Study Description: Global migration of human populations is occurring at an unprecedented rate throughout the world, yet we do not fully understand how migration impacts health and disease development. South Asian immigrants raised in Western environments including Canada, have a significant, yet unexplained increase in the risk of developing a chronic inflammatory disease. While the South Asian community represents a significant and growing proportion in the Greater Toronto Area, its understanding of health literacy, health beliefs, health-seeking behaviours, and chronic inflammatory diseases are still not well understood. Given that migration will continue to be the main driver of Canada’s population growth and economic health in the decades to come, there is an urgent need to identify how environmental changes imposed by migration lead to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases and how immigrants and their families are coping with these diseases that may be unfamiliar to them.

The goals of the study is to investigate the effect of migration on chronic inflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), in South Asian Canadian communities.

Researchers at University of Toronto are recruiting 2 types of participants outlined below. They will be interviewed and asked to share their thoughts and opinions on chronic inflammatory diseases and access to health care services. Participants will receive $25 cash for participating in a 1-hour interview at a location of their choice in the Greater Toronto Area.
Recruitment Dates: 2016-08-24 to 2016-12-31
Who can participate: PARTICIPANT TYPE 1
  • 18-29 years of age
  • South Asian* descent
  • Born in Canada to a parent born in South Asia
  • Have been diagnosed with any chronic inflammatory diseases**, including MS

PARTICIPANT TYPE 2
  • Any age
  • South Asian* descent
  • Born in South Asia
  • A PARENT with a CHILD of any age, who was born in Canada and has been diagnosed with any chronic inflammatory diseases**, including MS

*South Asian countries include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka

**Chronic inflammatory diseases include: Multiple sclerosis (MS), asthma, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, psoriasis, Takayasu's arteritis (& other types of arthritis), tuberculosis, type 1 diabetes, etc.
Location of Trial: Ontario
Contact Information: Jessica Carlos
GEMINI Study Project Manager
Research Associate/Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Geography
University of Toronto Mississauga
T: (647) 503-2706
jessica.carlos@mail.utoronto.ca
Trial Funding: Connaught Global Challenge Award, University of Toronto