Experience and representations of health and social services in a community of Nunavik

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to explore representations and experiences with health and social services in an Inuit community of Nunavik.Methods: A total of 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Inuit adults from a community of Northern Quebec. Informal interviews and participatory observation was conducted on six visits over two years. A thematic inductive analysis of data was conducted.Results: Participants’ experiences with care were largely related to the nature of interactions with service providers, and feelings about whether perceived needs were being met. Often these needs were socio-economic. Perceptions of services were based on concepts of trust, privacy and fear of consequences of divulging information, three intrinsically related themes.Conclusions: Reflections must be made on how to address the socio-economic needs of patients and how to go beyond the immediate requests to hear the psychosocial needs that patients might not feel safe to talk about.