142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Migration, Medical Travel, and Cancer Screening among Korean American Immigrants

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Linda K Ko, PhD , Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Jihye Yoon , Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
John Inadomi , University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Hejie Choi , Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Mindy Lee , Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Suzanne Pak , Cornerstone Medical Services, Federal Way, WA
Jae Lim , Korean Women Association, Tacoma, WA
Vicky Taylor, MD, MPH , Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Background: Patients from high socio-economic status from developing countries have long traveled to the United States (US) for high quality medical services. Currently, an opposite trend is emerging, and US immigrants such as Korean Americans (KA) are opting to travel to their home country for medical services including cancer screening.   

Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the KA patients who travel to Korea for medical services. 

Methods: We conducted a community-based, cross sectional interviewer-administered survey among limited English proficient KA immigrants ages 50-75 in WA State. We used a convenience sampling approach and recruited from community organizations. The survey questions were adapted from the National Health Interview Survey. Three trained bilingual interviewers conducted the 15 minutes interviews (N=193) between August-October 2013. We performed descriptive statistics using proportions and means.

Results: Mean age of the KA patients were 61+7.2. More than half of the patients were females (64%), married (74%), had some college education (51%) and were uninsured (56%). One third of the patients (31%) reported that they had traveled to Korea for medical services, 2-3 times within the past five years. The majority of those traveling to Korea were uninsured (72%). These patients were mostly females (63%), self-employed (32%) or retired (20%), college graduate (45%), and with an annual income of less than $20,000.  Male patients reported screening for FOBT (20%), colonoscopy (33%), and prostate cancer (41%). Female patients reported screening for FOBT (33%), colonoscopy (55%), breast cancer (89%), and cervical cancer (87%).

Conclusions: A large number of uninsured KA patients choose to travel to their home country for medical services including cancer screening. With the implementation of affordable care act, more KA patients will be insured in the US. The number of medically related travel among KA immigrants may decrease as more people become insured.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
Explain the concept of medical tourism and cancer screening among Korean American immigrants Discuss the medical tourism practices and cancer screening among Korean American immigrants

Keyword(s): Cancer Prevention and Screening, Asian Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a principal investigator of multiple federally funded grants.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5007.0: Diverse perspectives in Asian and Pacific Islander health