Korean J Fam Pract. 2018; 8(4): 585-592  https://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2018.8.4.585
A Qualitative Study on Utilization and Unmet Needs of Healthcare Service for Overseas Koreans in Vietnam
In Sun Ryou1, Ju Young Kim2,*, Hwa Yeon Park3, Jinah Han3, Yuliya Pak3, Hyang Yuol Lee4,5, Hyun Jung Baek3, Ju Yeon Lee3, Sung Hee Chang3, Jung Hun Lee3, Ji Soo Choe3
1Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul; 2Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam; 3Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam; 4Research Institute of Healthcare Policy, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 5Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea
Ju Young Kim Tel: +82-31-787-7796, Fax: +82-31-787-4078 E-mail: kkamburi@gmail.com ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6018-3337
Received: July 6, 2017; Revised: October 10, 2017; Accepted: October 12, 2017; Published online: August 20, 2018.
© The Korean Academy of Family Medicine. All rights reserved.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background: Contemporary globalization has resulted in many Koreans residing overseas amid different socio-health systems but few studies have been conducted on their unmet needs in healthcare service. Healthcare service utilization depends not only on local healthcare resources or system, but also on health insurance systems. This study aimed to examine healthcare service utilization and unmet needs of Koreans in Vietnam.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to identify the healthcare service utilization pattern and unmet needs of Koreans in Vietnam by using focus group and in-depth interviews.
Results: Interview contents were classified into 6 categories with 18 subcategories, and they were summarized as two topics of healthcare service utilization pattern and unmet needs in healthcare service. The first healthcare service utilized included pharmacy, and hospitals were chosen later depending on severity of illness. In case of severe or critical illness, Koreans chose to go to Korea. They had difficulties in using healthcare service because of medical mistrust, language barrier, and lack of clinical specialists. The type of hospital was chosen by severity of illness, size of medical facilities, medical expenses, availability of specialists, and existence of interpreters. The most preferred healthcare service need was being provided with advice or second opinions from Korean clinical specialists and second preferred service was preventive healthcare services.
Conclusion: In this study, healthcare service utilization pattern and unmet needs of Koreans in Vietnam were specifically identified. This study provides basic information for establishing and implementing effective healthcare service system for overseas Koreans.
Keywords: Vietnam; Overseas Koreans; Healthcare Service Utilization; Unmet Healthcare Service Needs
References
  1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The status of Oversease Koreans [Internet]. Seoul: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; c2015. [cited 2017 Jun 9].
  2. World Health Organization. Resolution WHA 61.17: Health of migrants. The Sixty-first World Health Assembly [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; c2008 May 19-24. [cited 2017 Jun 9].
  3. Kim KS, Ahn JW, Kim JA, Kim HJ. A comparison study using mixed methods on foreign residents’ satisfaction with Korean health care services. J Korean Acad Nurs 2014; 44: 86-96.
    Pubmed CrossRef
  4. Korea Health Industry Development Institute. Updated report of Advancing Korean medical care to three countries in Southeast Asia [Internet]. [cited 2016 Nov 30].
  5. Department of Planning and Finance and Health Insurance, Ministry of Finance Japan of Vietnam. Social health insurance scheme in Vietnamachievements & challenges [Internet]. Tokyo: Ministry of Finance Japan;c2016 Jun 6. [cited 2017 Sep 20].
  6. Cho HS. A study on the actual condition and the development plan of Korean national protection abroad system [dissertation]. Seoul: Seoul National Univ.; 2015. Korean.
  7. Office for Government Policy Coordination Prime Minister’s Secretariat [Internet]. Sejong: Office for Government Policy Coordination Prime Minister’s Secretariat [cited 2017 Sep 27].
    Available from: http://pmo.go.kr
  8. Overseas Grant Assistance [Internet]. Seongnam: Korea International Cooperation Agency; c2015. [cited 2017 Sep 27].
    Available from: http://www.koica.go.kr
  9. Shin KL, Cho MO, Yang JH, et al. Qualitative Research Methodology. Seoul:Ewha Womans University Press, 2004.
  10. Krueger RA, Casey MA. Focus groups-A practical guide for applied research. 4th ed. Los Angeles (CA): Sage Publications; 2009.
  11. Hsieh HF, Shannon SE. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual Health Res 2005; 15: 1277-88.
    Pubmed CrossRef
  12. Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research:concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today 2004; 24: 105-12.
    Pubmed CrossRef
  13. Kwon SM, Kim SJ, Jeon BY, Jung Y, Pharmaceutical Policy and Financing in Asia-Pacific Countries, OECD Korea Policy Centre ∙ Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University (WHO Collaborating Centre for Health System and Financing). 2014 Aug.
  14. Medical Services Administration. Joint annual health review 2015-Strengthening primary health care at the grassroots towards universal health coverage. Hanoi: Medical Publishing House [cited 2017 Sep 17].
  15. KHIDI. Korea Health Industry Development Institute [Internet]. Osong:Korea Helth Industry Development Institute; c2016. [cited 2017 Sep 28].
  16. Seol SC, Jeong SK, Tuan Anh Nguyen. Effects of medical service quality on service satisfaction and revisit intention: depending on emotional response:focus on a comparison between nations (South Korea and Vietnam). Journal of Marketing Management Research 2017; 22: 23-52.
  17. Koh CK, Koh SK. Married female migrants’ experiences of health care services. J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Edu 2009; 15: 89-99.
    CrossRef
  18. Lassetter JH, Callister LC. The impact of migration on the health of voluntary migrants in western societies. J Transcult Nurs 2009; 20: 93-104.
    Pubmed CrossRef


This Article

e-submission

Archives