Preamble concerning confidentiality, consent forms and objectives of the project.

Demographic Information

1. How long have you been in Canada?
2. When you arrived in Canada, did you pick a doctor for yourself / family?
3. How did you find your doctor (through referral from a relative, friend, agency?)
4. Did the doctor treat your whole family?
5. How long were you in an abusive relationship?
6. What kinds of health-related problems did you experience as a result of the abuse?

Encounter with the Health Care System

1. Did you ever tell your doctor about the abuse / violence? What was her / his response?
2. Did you ever tell a nurse? What was her / his response?
3. Did you ever go to an emergency department of a hospital? How did the person there treat you?
4. Did you go to a walk-in clinic? How did the person there treat you?
5. Did you experience any problems with how you were treated by the health care professionals?
6. Do you feel that you received adequate treatment and health care?

1. What health care services - information, support, advocacy, services - were helpful for you when you left the abusive relationship?
2. Based on your experience, what kind of health related (medical, psychological) information would a woman need when she is in or leaving an abusive relationship?
3. Would it have been beneficial to have a nurse or doctor who spoke your own language or was from your own community / cultural background?
4. Was it easy for you to get information about violence related health care issues in your language?
5. Who or where did you get this information from?

Recommendations

1. Should there be more information made available in your language about violence related health care issues?
2. How could information be given to you and other women, in a safe and easy to understand way? Or, what is the best way to get this information about violence related health care to you and other women?
3. In what ways can the health care system be made more accessible in terms of providing adequate treatment to women who have experienced abuse?

Is there anything else that you would like to add?