Emergency department use among Asian adults living in the United States: Results from the National Health Interview Survey (2006 – 2013)

Abstract

This paper presents secondary analyses of the National Health Interview Survey data focused on emergency department (ED) utilization among Asian adults residing in the United States. National Health Interview Survey data provided from survey years 2006-2013 was pooled and disaggregated by single-race Asian ethnic subgroups (Filipino, Chinese, Asian Indian, other Asian). We explored trends in reports of an ED visit over the survey years for the purpose of determining whether reports of an ED visit increased or decreased over survey years. We also explored background/biologic, environment, access to care, and behavior factors and their associations with having an ED visit. The majority of respondents were foreign-born (75.9%) and had lived in the United States for ten or more years (54.3%). Estimates for reports of any ED visits ranged from 8.3% for the Chinese to 15.3% for the Filipino subgroups. Filipinos were more likely to have an ED visit compared to the Chinese and other Asians (except Asian Indians). For the eight years of survey data, estimates indicate a trend of fewer reports of any ED visit among the Asian Indian and Filipino subgroups. Among Filipinos, having diabetes and a smoking history were associated with an ED visit. The odds of an ED visit were higher among Asians in the youngest age category, among other Asians born in the United States, and among those who saw/talked to a mental health professional within the previous year. As there is a paucity of information available about ED use among Asians or Asian subgroups, this report adds to the literature on patterns of health care utilization among Asian subgroups living in the United States with a specific focus on ED utilization.

Three studies on psychological distress, health-risk behaviors, and health care access among Chinese, Filipino, and Asian Indian American Subgroups

“…Our findings are consistent with published studies (Kim & Spencer, 2011;Lo et al, 2014;Martell et al, 2016;Woo et al, 2017). One potential explanation could be that Filipino Americans have acculturated to alcohol drinking behaviors seen in the US (Sullivan et al, 2017). In their culture, alcohol consumption is accepted and often encouraged for especially for Filipino men (Nadal, 2000).…”

“…One plausible explanation could be related to social bias. Sullivan et al (2017) found that Asian Americans including Asian Indian smokers might not disclose their smoking status contributing to lower prevalence of current smoking status. Another possible explanation is that unemployed Asian Indian Americans might use other forms of smoking such as cultural smokeless tobacco products.…”