| Learning Objective #1: Inform health professionals of the reasons for Chinese elders' under use of health care despite their high health care needs | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Inform health professions of the self-care practices that Chinese elders substitute for formal health care |
Objective: Asians are the fastest growing population in the US. Chinese elders constitute the largest group of older Asians in the US. Chinese elderly immigrants have documented health problems. Yet this group is reported to under utilize health care. Since the reasons for under utilization are not known, this study explored factors that affect health care use among elderly Chinese immigrants. Design: A qualitative, case-oriented study design was used to replicate a previous study that was conducted with elderly Russian immigrants. Sample: The sample was from the Boston area and included 27 elderly immigrants from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; 11 adult children who are caregivers for their elderly Chinese parents; and 12 health professionals who serve this immigrant group. Methods: Individual and focus group interviews were conducted to elicit perceptions about the patterns of and reasons for Chinese elders’ health care use. Perceptions were summarized through content analysis of the interview data. Findings: Everyone agreed that Chinese elders had many physical and mental health problems. Despite the high prevalence of health problems, everyone also agreed that Chinese elders are reluctant to seek health care unless their health problems are acutely serious. Cultural preferences and beliefs as well as structural barriers accounted for the under use of health care. Cultural reasons for under utilization included a preference for traditional Chinese practices, in part because of fear of western medicine; a reliance on self over professional care; and different criteria for when to seek professional care. Structural barriers included language and transportation difficulties. Implications: These findings provide the knowledge base for educational strategies to decrease Chinese elders' fear and increase their knowledge of when to seek formal western health care and to inform health professionals about the self-care practices that Chinese elders substitute for formal western health care.
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