Examining structural factors influencing cancer care experienced by Inuit in Canada: a scoping review

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Wen Qiu (Mandy) Huang, Wendy Gifford, J. Craig Phillips, Veldon Coburn
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023
• Subjects: Inuit; health and wellness; cancer; cancer care; health care; structural factors; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Briggs; Canada; Circumpolar Health; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; inuit
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2253604; https://doaj.org/article/6e8c5bf0553e42598a056d48a93262cf

ABSTRACTInuit face worse cancer survival rates and outcomes than the general Canadian population. Persistent health disparities cannot be understood without examining the structural factors that create inequities and continue to impact the health and well-being of Inuit. This scoping review aims to synthesise the available published and grey literature on the structural factors that influence cancer care experienced by Inuit in Canada. Guided by Inuit input from Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada as well as the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology, a comprehensive electronic search along with hand-searching of grey literature and relevant journals was conducted. A total of 30 papers were included for analysis and assessment of relevance. Findings were organised into five categories as defined in the a priori framework related to colonisation, as well as health systems, social, economic, and political structures. The study results highlight interconnections between racism and colonialism, the lack of health service information on urban Inuit, as well as the need for system-wide efforts to address the structural barriers in cancer care.