Health service utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates

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 count...

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Published in:	Globalization and health Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 120
Main Authors:	Kim, Ho Young, Kim, Ju Young, Park, Hwa Yeon, Jun, Ji Hye, Koo, Hye Yeon, Cho, In Young, Han, Jinah, Pak, Yuliya, Baek, Hyun Jung, Lee, Ju Yeon, Chang, Sung Hee, Lee, Jung Hun, Choe, Ji Soo, Yang, Sun-Kyung, Kim, Kyung Chul, Park, Jeong Ha, Paik, Seul Ki
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England BioMed Central Ltd 29-11-2018 BioMed Central BMC
Subjects:	Chronic illnesses Demographic aspects Developing countries Disease control Expatriates Expatriation Health aspects Health care Health problems Health risks Health service utilization Health services Health services utilization International aspects Korean expatriates Koreans LDCs Medical care utilization Medical personnel Migration Physicians Population Regression analysis Service facilities Studies Surveys Telemedicine Unmet health needs Utilization Vietnam Saudi Arabia Uzbekistan Cambodia Health service utilization Telemedicine Korean expatriates Unmet health needs
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Summary:	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. 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. 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. 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.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1744-8603 1744-8603
DOI:	10.1186/s12992-018-0433-y