Learning to implement new electronic health programs: Expanding cancer care access for English-speaking Quebec patients

In Quebec, English-speaking cancer patients face language barriers in accessing healthcare services. This can cause delays and inadequate treatment leading to poorer quality of care. Electronic health platforms have the potential to improve English-speaking cancer patients’ ability to navigate the health system. E-IMPAQc is an electronic platform for cancer patients, available online or through an app that streamlines access to bilingual information, self-management tools, and coordinates patients’ appointments. My doctoral research aims to understand how e-IMPAQc can improve access to cancer care resources and delivery of services for English-speaking patients by studying the platform’s implementation process. I am conducting in-depth interviews with cancer care patients, clinicians, and e-IMPAQc implementation staff to gain insight into their experiences and how the real-world use of the platform works. The findings will directly inform e-IMPAQc’s ongoing implementation and will be published in several academic journals. The results of my study will demonstrate how electronic health platforms can be used to improve the access and delivery of care for English-speaking patients, not only in cancer, but across the Quebec healthcare system.