Paper short abstract:

This research will draw on Actor Network Theory and Constructivist Grounded Theory to examine the sociomaterial significance of virtual care and its role in configuring health care access for women from a refugee background.

Paper long abstract:

Virtual care has changed traditional health care encounters in Australia, bringing with it new dimensions to healthcare access. While it has demonstrated benefits for many Australians, for many culturally and linguistically diverse and minority populations including refugee women, there are concerns about systematic disparities in virtual care models implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic. These models were developed and employed based on necessity, not equity, and despite the ongoing use of virtual care, the evaluation and adaptation of these models has been slow.

The implicit and systematic discrimination in the design and implementation of virtual care raises important concerns about the resourcing, policies and priorities of Australian health systems. There is currently little literature on the specific experiences of refugee women utilizing virtual care in high income countries and research into the systemic issues associated with virtual care access is essential to identifying and addressing the root causes of these inequities.

This research draws on Actor Netwok Theory and Constructivist Grounded Theory to examine the socio-material significance of virtual care. Through in-depth interviews with refugee women and health care professionals this research explicates virtual care in practice. It reveals the often-unseen factors that make virtual care networks accessible, the impact of inaccessible networks, and the often-invisible work that those from minority backgrounds undertake to access health services. It examines how virtual care constructs the identities of both patients and providers and explores power dynamics that privilege certain kinds of citizenship and societal participation.