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Topic

Community-Centred Care: Exploring the Integration of Community Context in Healthcare

School of Nursing

Date & location

• Wednesday, April 9, 2025
• 1:00 P.M.
• Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Allie Slemon, School of Nursing, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
• Dr. Ingrid Handlovsky, School of Nursing, UVic (Member)
• Dr. Lorelei Newton, School of Nursing, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

• Dr. Margaret Scaia, Faculty of Human and Social Development, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Alison Gerlach, School of Child and Youth Care, UVic

Abstract

Rural healthcare is nuanced, contextual, and embodies principles that intertwine patient-centred care, collaboration, health equity and health promotion, yet is primarily regarded in relation to its perpetual complexities. The purpose of this study is to explore how healthcare workers (HCWs) understand the context of Community-centred care in British Columbia (BC) rural communities. Through semi-structured interviews I explore what HCWs know about the communities they live and work, while also delving into their perceptions of how this knowledge impacts healthcare delivery. For this study, I used Thorne’s Interpretive Description methodology to delve into the complexities of Community-centred care to understand the human experience of providing healthcare in rural communities. This methodology allowed for the translation of research findings into practical outcomes that are relevant to the current state of Canadian healthcare. The findings revealed three main themes: Prioritizing relationships and connections; Demonstrating innovation in overcoming challenges; and Integrating knowledge, which were central to Community-centred care and instrumental in rural healthcare delivery. These findings were discussed in relation to the literature and identified areas for future research opportunities. Additionally, we revealed how this research expands this area of scholarship by exploring Building Capacity, Agency Nurses, and Deficit Discourse in rural settings. This study emphasizes the potential of Collaborative Approaches and calls to action to empower rural HCWs to utilize their understanding of their communities to reduce barriers to healthcare.