TY - JOUR
T1 - Workers' compensation experience in some Indigenous Northern Ontario communities
AU - Lightfoot, Nancy
AU - Manitowabi, Darrel
AU - Arrandale, Victoria
AU - Barnett, Nathaniel
AU - Wabegijig-Nootchtai, Carmen
AU - Odjig, Mary Lynn
AU - Moulton, Jeff
AU - Fongemy, Julie
AU - Larivière, Michel
AU - Kerekes, Zsuzsanna
AU - Holness, Linn
AU - MacEwan, Leigh
AU - Eger, Tammy
AU - Warry, Wayne
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of research about occupational health and safety experience in Indigenous communities and compensation applications from Indigenous workers appear limited. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative descriptive study was designed to explore workers' compensation experiences in some Canadian Indigenous communities. METHODS: A community-based participatory research approach was used to conduct focus groups (n = 25 participants) in three Northeastern Ontario (NEO) Indigenous communities and at one NEO Indigenous employment centre. Semi-structured focus group questions addressed community experience with workers' compensation, the compensation process, and discussion of a training session about the process. Reflexive thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke procedures. RESULTS: Discussion with study participants resulted in these themes: 1) both lack of knowledge, and knowledge, about compensation demonstrated, 2) impact of lack of compensation coverage and need for universal coverage on reserve, 3) need for community training sessions about workers' compensation, 4) workload and financial impact of workers' compensation on reserve, and 5) requirement for cultural competence training in the compensation board. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative descriptive study revealed the: need for more information about applying for workers' compensation and navigating the process, need for universal workplace insurance coverage in Indigenous communities, demand for community-based compensation process training, community costs of compensation, and the requirement for cultural safety and competence training for compensation organization employees. More education about the workers' compensation process would be of benefit to leadership, health care providers, administrative personnel, employers, and employees on reserves. Nurses in community health centres are well situated to provide further guidance.
AB - BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of research about occupational health and safety experience in Indigenous communities and compensation applications from Indigenous workers appear limited. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative descriptive study was designed to explore workers' compensation experiences in some Canadian Indigenous communities. METHODS: A community-based participatory research approach was used to conduct focus groups (n = 25 participants) in three Northeastern Ontario (NEO) Indigenous communities and at one NEO Indigenous employment centre. Semi-structured focus group questions addressed community experience with workers' compensation, the compensation process, and discussion of a training session about the process. Reflexive thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke procedures. RESULTS: Discussion with study participants resulted in these themes: 1) both lack of knowledge, and knowledge, about compensation demonstrated, 2) impact of lack of compensation coverage and need for universal coverage on reserve, 3) need for community training sessions about workers' compensation, 4) workload and financial impact of workers' compensation on reserve, and 5) requirement for cultural competence training in the compensation board. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative descriptive study revealed the: need for more information about applying for workers' compensation and navigating the process, need for universal workplace insurance coverage in Indigenous communities, demand for community-based compensation process training, community costs of compensation, and the requirement for cultural safety and competence training for compensation organization employees. More education about the workers' compensation process would be of benefit to leadership, health care providers, administrative personnel, employers, and employees on reserves. Nurses in community health centres are well situated to provide further guidance.
KW - Qualitative descriptive
KW - aboriginal
KW - cultural safety
KW - indigenous
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U2 - 10.3233/WOR-210895
DO - 10.3233/WOR-210895
M3 - Article
C2 - 35938275
AN - SCOPUS:85140345783
SN - 1051-9815
VL - 73
SP - 707
EP - 717
JO - Work
JF - Work
IS - 2
ER -