Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSutter Medical Center, Sacramento
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Sutter Medical Center
  • Research
  • Women's Health
Content

Healthcare access and utilization among Korean Americans: the mediating role of English use and proficiency.

Description

Li J, Maxwell AE, Glenn BA, Herrmann AK, Chang LC, Crespi CM, Bastani R., Int J Soc Sci Res. 2016;4(1):83-97., 2016 Jan 21

Investigators

Jiang Li, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Scientist

Abstract

The literature suggests that Korean Americans underutilize health services. Cultural factors and language barriers appear to influence this pattern of low utilization, but studies on the relationships among length of stay in the U.S., English use and proficiency, and utilization of health services among Korean Americans have yielded inconsistent results.

This study examines whether English language use and proficiency plays a mediating role in the relationships between length of stay in the U.S. and health insurance coverage, access to and use of care.

Structural equation modeling was used for mediation analysis with multiple dependent variables among Korean Americans (N=555) using baseline data from a large trial designed to increase Hepatitis B testing.

The results show 36% of the total effect of proportion of lifetime in the U.S. on having health insurance was significantly mediated by English use and proficiency (indirect effect=0.166, SE=0.07, p<.05; direct effect=0.296, SE=0.13, p<.05).

Proportion of lifetime in the U.S. was not associated with usual source of care and health service utilization. Instead, health care utilization was primarily driven by having health insurance and a usual source of care, further underscoring the importance of these factors.

A focus on increasing English use and proficiency and insurance coverage among older, female, less educated Korean Americans has the potential to mitigate health disparities associated with reduced access to health services in this population.

Pubmed Abstract

Pubmed AbstractOpens New Window

Associated Topics

  • Aging and Longevity
  • Health Disparities
  • Health Services
  • Women's Health

Related Publications

Hyperlocalized Measures of Air Pollution and Preeclampsia in Oakland, California

Goin DE, Sudat S, Riddell C, Morello-Frosch R, Apte JS, Glymour MM, Karasek D, Casey JA
Environ Sci Technol. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02151. Online ahead of print.
2021 Oct 14

Selecting new upfront regimens for advanced ovarian cancer with biomarker guidance.

Chan JK, Liang SY, Kapp DS, Chan JE, Herzog TJ, Coleman RL, Monk BJ, Richardson MT.
Gynecol Oncol. S0090-8258(20)33910-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.09.017. Online ahead of print.
2020 Sep 26

How, when, and why individuals with stage IV cancer seen in an outpatient setting are referred to palliative care: a mixed methods study.

Dillon EC, Meehan A, Li J, Liang SY, Lai S, Colocci N, Roth J, Szwerinski NK, Luft H.
Support Care Cancer. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05492-z. [Epub ahead of print]
2020 May 19

Multiple sclerosis in a multi-ethnic population from Northern California: a retrospective analysis, 2010-2016.

Romanelli RJ, Huang Q, Lacy J, Hashemi L, Wong A, Smith A.
BMC Neurol. 20(1):163. doi: 10.1186/s12883-020-01749-6.
2020 Apr 30

World Endometriosis Society consensus on the classification of endometriosis.

Johnson NP, Hummelshoj L, Adamson GD, Keckstein J, Taylor HS, Abrao MS, Bush D, Kiesel L, Tamimi R, Sharpe-Timms KL, Rombauts L, Giudice LC; for the World Endometriosis Society Sao Paulo Consortium.
Hum Reprod. [Epub ahead of print]
2016 Dec 05
The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Request Medical Records
  • Make a Gift
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences