Health service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates
Abstract Background With the significant growth of migration and expatriation, facilitated by increased global mobility, the number of Koreans living abroad as of 2016 is approximately 7.4 million (15% of the Korean population). Healthcare utilization or health problems, especially among expatriates...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Globalization and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12992-018-0433-y |
| _version_ | 1818939648336986112 |
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| author | Ho Young Kim Ju Young Kim Hwa Yeon Park Ji Hye Jun Hye Yeon Koo In Young Cho Jinah Han Yuliya Pak Hyun Jung Baek Ju Yeon Lee Sung Hee Chang Jung Hun Lee Ji Soo Choe Sun-kyung Yang Kyung Chul Kim Jeong Ha Park Seul Ki Paik |
| author_facet | Ho Young Kim Ju Young Kim Hwa Yeon Park Ji Hye Jun Hye Yeon Koo In Young Cho Jinah Han Yuliya Pak Hyun Jung Baek Ju Yeon Lee Sung Hee Chang Jung Hun Lee Ji Soo Choe Sun-kyung Yang Kyung Chul Kim Jeong Ha Park Seul Ki Paik |
| author_sort | Ho Young Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background With the significant growth of migration and expatriation, facilitated by increased global mobility, the number of Koreans living abroad as of 2016 is approximately 7.4 million (15% of the Korean population). Healthcare utilization or health problems, especially among expatriates in developing countries, have not been well researched despite the various health risks these individuals are exposed to. Consequently, we identified the health utilization patterns and healthcare needs among Korean expatriates in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Uzbekistan. Methods This cross-sectional survey examined 429 Korean expatriates living in Vietnam (n = 208), Cambodia (n = 60), and Uzbekistan (n = 161) who had access to the Internet and were living abroad for at least 6 months. A 67-item questionnaire was used, and feedback was received via an online survey program. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with unmet healthcare needs and preferences of certain type of telemedicine. Results We found that 45.5% (195/429) of respondents had used medical services in their country of stay. Among those who visited health institutions > 3 times, the most popular choice was general hospitals (39.4%, 15/38); however, they initially visited Korean doctors’ or local doctors’ offices. The most essential criteria for healthcare service facilities was a “skilled professional” (39.3%, 169/429), 42% wanted a health program for chronic disease management, and 30% wanted specialized internal medicine. A substantial number wanted to access telemedicine services and were willing to pay for this service. They were particularly interested in experts’ second opinion (61.5%, 264/429) and quick, 24-h medical consultations (60.8%, 261/429). Having unmet healthcare needs and being younger was strongly associated with all types of telemedicine networks. Conclusions Nearly half of the expatriates in developing countries had unmet healthcare needs. Telemedicine is one potential solution to meet these needs, especially in developing countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T06:27:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba7052e8b84f4d338245b277a2ff1dd5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-8603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T06:27:05Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Globalization and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba7052e8b84f4d338245b277a2ff1dd52022-12-21T19:50:16ZengBMCGlobalization and Health1744-86032018-11-011411810.1186/s12992-018-0433-yHealth service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriatesHo Young Kim0Ju Young Kim1Hwa Yeon Park2Ji Hye Jun3Hye Yeon Koo4In Young Cho5Jinah Han6Yuliya Pak7Hyun Jung Baek8Ju Yeon Lee9Sung Hee Chang10Jung Hun Lee11Ji Soo Choe12Sun-kyung Yang13Kyung Chul Kim14Jeong Ha Park15Seul Ki Paik16Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Chamjoeun HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University HospitalAbstract Background With the significant growth of migration and expatriation, facilitated by increased global mobility, the number of Koreans living abroad as of 2016 is approximately 7.4 million (15% of the Korean population). Healthcare utilization or health problems, especially among expatriates in developing countries, have not been well researched despite the various health risks these individuals are exposed to. Consequently, we identified the health utilization patterns and healthcare needs among Korean expatriates in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Uzbekistan. Methods This cross-sectional survey examined 429 Korean expatriates living in Vietnam (n = 208), Cambodia (n = 60), and Uzbekistan (n = 161) who had access to the Internet and were living abroad for at least 6 months. A 67-item questionnaire was used, and feedback was received via an online survey program. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with unmet healthcare needs and preferences of certain type of telemedicine. Results We found that 45.5% (195/429) of respondents had used medical services in their country of stay. Among those who visited health institutions > 3 times, the most popular choice was general hospitals (39.4%, 15/38); however, they initially visited Korean doctors’ or local doctors’ offices. The most essential criteria for healthcare service facilities was a “skilled professional” (39.3%, 169/429), 42% wanted a health program for chronic disease management, and 30% wanted specialized internal medicine. A substantial number wanted to access telemedicine services and were willing to pay for this service. They were particularly interested in experts’ second opinion (61.5%, 264/429) and quick, 24-h medical consultations (60.8%, 261/429). Having unmet healthcare needs and being younger was strongly associated with all types of telemedicine networks. Conclusions Nearly half of the expatriates in developing countries had unmet healthcare needs. Telemedicine is one potential solution to meet these needs, especially in developing countries.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12992-018-0433-yTelemedicineHealth service utilizationUnmet health needsKorean expatriates |
| spellingShingle | Ho Young Kim Ju Young Kim Hwa Yeon Park Ji Hye Jun Hye Yeon Koo In Young Cho Jinah Han Yuliya Pak Hyun Jung Baek Ju Yeon Lee Sung Hee Chang Jung Hun Lee Ji Soo Choe Sun-kyung Yang Kyung Chul Kim Jeong Ha Park Seul Ki Paik Health service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates Globalization and Health Telemedicine Health service utilization Unmet health needs Korean expatriates |
| title | Health service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates |
| title_full | Health service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates |
| title_fullStr | Health service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates |
| title_short | Health service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates |
| title_sort | health service utilization unmet healthcare needs and the potential of telemedicine services among korean expatriates |
| topic | Telemedicine Health service utilization Unmet health needs Korean expatriates |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12992-018-0433-y |
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