Practical strategies to circumvent and/or surmount six barriers in health disparities research: observations from a pilot project among Vietnamese Americans

A Qualitative Study of Health Care Experiences Among International Students

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the health care experiences of international students at a college in Indiana. The study answered the following research question: What are the lived experiences of international students while seeking health care? This research question was identified after a literature review, which showed a lack of research regarding international students' health care experiences. The data in this study were collected through in-depth interviews with 5 participants who resided at the college. After the interviews, the identification of themes and the analysis of results revealed the international students' lived experiences and perceptions of health care in the United States.

Patient satisfaction and its potential impact on refugee integration into the healthcare system

Background:

Health care constitutes an important aspect of services in the resettlement processes for newly arriving and resettling refugees.

Objectives:

We conducted a study to investigate levels of satisfaction related to health services delivered to refugee populations in a resettlement community and its surrounding areas.

Methods:

We used the experience of 92 adult refugee patients to examine social-cultural, clinical and economic characteristics affecting satisfaction with health care. A cross-sectional study using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) was conducted. Item analysis was conducted by considering each question on the PSQ as an item and by developing dimensions of satisfaction. Chi-square analyses were used to assess the relationships between satisfaction and patient factors.

Results:

Patients were satisfied with the initial health assessment (90%) and overall quality (86%). Only 59% of the patients were satisfied with phone interpreters. The general satisfaction dimension had a score of 4.05 on a scale of 5, while time spent with the doctor had the lowest score of 2.98. Having pre-arrival medical conditions was associated with poor satisfaction with both the initial health assessment (χ2=10.260; p=.036) and regular health services (χ2=4.550; p=.033).

Conclusion:

Although patients were generally satisfied with health services, improvements are recommended in different aspects of care to create a favorable environment of care and increase levels of satisfaction and trust with the healthcare system among refugee populations.