Patterns and Factors Associated with Health Care Utilization among Korean American Elderly

OBJECTIVE: To examine patterns and factors associated with the utilization of health care services among Korean American elderly (KAE). DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Data collected from a survey of face­to­face interviews with 205 KAE, aged 60 years and older, residing in the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan area in 1999. STUDY DESIGN: We employed a cross-sectional design, based on the behavioral model of health service utilization for vulnerable populations. Poisson regression was used to estimate parameters associated with physician visits, the utilization of Oriental medicine, and hospitalization. DATA COLLECTION: Data were collected using face-to-face interviews with 205 KAE. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: About 60% of respondents reported that they could not get care when needed, and the majority (86%) had experienced difficulty getting care. About 71% of respondents visited a physician, and 25% used Oriental medicine at least once during the previous 6 months. Only 8% visited an emergency room. Enabling factors such as public insurance and having a regular physician were important to the utilization of physician care and hospitalization, whereas perceived or evaluated needs were crucial to the utilization of Oriental medicine. The level of acculturation was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Korean American elderly grossly underutilized ambulatory health facilities, a finding which suggests that this vulnerable population needs culturally effective interventions and policies. KEY WORDS: Korean American, Elderly, Health Service Utilization, Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Population