Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to understand healthcare utilization behavior among Korean international students in the U.S. Participants and methods: Seventeen Korean international students in New York City participated in in-depth personal interviews. Results: The participants passively utilized U.S. healthcare by minimizing, avoiding, or delaying needed healthcare. However, they actively utilized transnational healthcare (in Korea) as an alternative strategy. Participants’ negative perception of the U.S. healthcare system (as a predisposing factor) influenced healthcare utilization in the U.S. The enabling transnational factors influenced their transnational healthcare utilization. Low perceived need for healthcare (as a need factor) determined the country where they utilized healthcare. Conclusion: Andersen’s healthcare utilization model is applicable in explaining healthcare utilization behavior among Korean international students, who could be considered a nontraditional vulnerable population. On-campus health education and promotion may help international students receive timely healthcare, especially those who do not return to their home country routinely.

摘要

目的本研究旨在了解在美国的韩国留学生的医疗保健利用行为。参与者和方法：对纽约市的 17 名韩国留学生进行了深度个人访谈。结果：参与者通过最小化、避免或延迟所需的医疗保健来被动地利用美国的医疗保健。然而，他们积极利用跨国医疗保健（在韩国）作为替代策略。参与者对美国医疗保健系统的负面看法（作为诱发因素）影响了美国的医疗保健利用。有利的跨国因素影响了他们的跨国医疗保健利用。对医疗保健的感知需求较低（作为一个需求因素）决定了他们使用医疗保健的国家/地区。结论：安徒生的医疗保健利用模型适用于解释韩国留学生的医疗保健利用行为，他们可以被视为非传统弱势群体。校园内的健康教育和宣传可以帮助国际学生，特别是那些不定期返回祖国的学生获得及时的医疗保健。