The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47333

Hae-Ra Han, RN, PhD¹, Miyong Kim, RN, PhD¹, and Kim B. Kim, PhD². (1) The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-2669, hhan@son.jhmi.edu, (2) Korean Resource Center, 425 E. Federal Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Using a subsample of Korean American elderly (KAE) with hypertension (n=146) who participated in a cross-sectional study on cardiovascular disease risk factors among KAE in Maryland, analyses were performed to describe the use of traditional and Western health services, as well as to examine the factors affecting health-seeking behaviors and health service utilization among them. The participants predominantly depended on Western rather than traditional Korean medicine, hanbang (57.5% vs. 4.1%). More than one-fourth (26.7%) used both Western and traditional medicines, while 11.6% had not utilized any type of health service during the past 6 months. Overall, the type of health service utilized did not differ according to the sociodemographic characteristics of the sample, but the non-user group had a significantly lower rate of having health insurance than did the user groups (35% vs. 69-83%). In addition, those who used Western or both types of medicine were more likely to have had a regular checkup (55-67% vs. 12-17%) and have a Korean primary doctor (71-74% vs. 3-33%) than were users of hanbang alone or non-users. While existing health care utilization models have not been fully effective in explaining why immigrants choose traditional care over Western medicine or the combination of the two types of medicine, the findings of our study suggest that health insurance status and the source of health care (in particular, access to a Korean doctor providing Western medical care) may be related to the types of health service that KAE choose to utilize.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe the use of traditional and Western medicine among Korean American elderly with hypertension;
• List factors associated with health care utilization among Korean American elderly with hypertension

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.