The healthcare experiences of Koreans living in North Carolina: a mixed methods study

Abstract

This study examined the healthcare experiences of Korean immigrants aged 40-64 living in the North Carolina Triangle area of the Southeastern United States. Using a mixed methods design, we collected quantitative data via a questionnaire from 125 participants and conducted a focus group with 10 interviewees from December 2010 to February 2011. The quantitative data were analysed using t-tests and chi-square tests, and a thematic analysis was used for the focus group study. Questionnaire findings showed that only 27.2% had sufficient English skills to communicate adequately. Participants with insurance were significantly more likely to be employed (P < 0.001), had higher incomes (P = 0.011) and higher education (P < 0.001), and had greater English-speaking ability (P = 0.011) than those without insurance. Participants who did not use healthcare services showed significantly less knowledge (P < 0.001) of and less satisfaction (P = 0.034) with the healthcare system than those using healthcare services. Sixty-two participants (49.6%) reported having no health insurance for one or more of the following reasons: high costs (75.8%), medical tourism (22.6%) and lack of information or knowledge (6.5%). The following themes emerged from the data collected during the focus group: (i) barriers to utilisation of healthcare services; (ii) facilitators of utilisation of healthcare services; and (iii) social support seeking for health management. Our mixed methods study findings indicate that healthcare disparities exist among Korean immigrants and that a number of factors, including health literacy, may contribute to their poor health outcomes. Continued collaboration among community members, healthcare professionals and academicians is needed to discuss the community's health concerns and to develop sustainable programmes that will ensure meaningful access to care for those with limited English proficiency and medically underserved populations.

Social networks, health promoting‐behavior, and health‐related quality of life in older Korean adults

“…Previous studies on Korean immigrants living in North Carolina, USA, suggested that their socioeconomic status (e.g. education, income) affects their health more than other factors (De Gagne et al, 2014;De Gagne, Oh, So, Haidermota, & Lee, 2015).…”

“…In addition to the traditional role of a church as a religious institution, Korean churches in the USA play a fundamental role in the immigrant community by providing members with employment opportunities, fulfilling their psychosocial and cultural needs, as well as offering them health‐related information (De Gagne, Oh, So, & Kim, ). Korean immigrants who attend church often do so because of the opportunities to expand current social networks, and often view the congregation as an extended family (De Gagne et al ., ). Older Korean immigrants in the USA reported that those who actively participated in religious activities had a high level of life satisfaction and well‐being (Park et al, 2011).…”

“…Previous studies on Korean immigrants living in North Carolina, USA, suggested that their socioeconomic status (e.g. education, income) affects their health more than other factors (De Gagne et al ., ; De Gagne, Oh, So, Haidermota, & Lee, ). In fact, several previous studies of older adult Korean immigrants living in the USA have not provided data on sources of income (De Gagne et al ., ; Jang et al ., ; Rie et al ., ).…”

“…education, income) affects their health more than other factors (De Gagne et al ., ; De Gagne, Oh, So, Haidermota, & Lee, ). In fact, several previous studies of older adult Korean immigrants living in the USA have not provided data on sources of income (De Gagne et al ., ; Jang et al ., ; Rie et al ., ). Therefore, our study is unique, as it sheds light on the importance of the source of income as a factor influencing HRQOL of older adults.…”

“…In our study, the participants' ages were close to 75 years, and their higher education level was significantly positively correlated to HRQOL.In the immigrant group, most of the participants' social activities were related to religious activities. In addition to the traditional role of a church as a religious institution, Korean churches in the USA play a fundamental role in the immigrant community by providing members with employment opportunities, fulfilling their psychosocial and cultural needs, as well as offering them health-related information(De Gagne, Oh, So, & Kim, 2014). Korean immigrants who attend church often do so because of the opportunities to expand current social networks, and often view the congregation as an extended family(De Gagne et al, 2014).…”