Health-seeking patterns among Chinese immigrant patients enrolled in the directly observed therapy program in New York City.
METHODS
Outreach services and chest clinics of the Department of Health in New York City.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the health-seeking behavior patterns of Chinese immigrant patients enrolled in the directly observed therapy (DOT) program in New York City, and to suggest service provision strategies.


METHODS
Data were collected by means of participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and patient narratives. These data were then analyzed statistically as well as qualitatively, based on grounded theory.


RESULTS
Of 60 patient informants, 38 had sought treatment for the relief of symptoms, and 22 were diagnosed by physical examination. Among 125 consultations made by 38 symptomatic patients during the period of their illness, there were more Chinatown physicians, including traditional Chinese practitioners, than other types of health providers, but they proportionally made the fewest referrals to the DOT program.


CONCLUSIONS
Chinatown physicians are the main health providers to whom Chinese immigrants with tuberculosis resort. Education and collaboration with Chinese doctors, practitioners of both biomedical and traditional Chinese medicine, in New York City's Chinatown, are essential to reduce enrolment delays in the DOT program. The free services of the DOT program should be made more widely known to the Chinese immigrant population.
Ho
M J
MJ
Department of Social Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. mjhohuang@yahoo.com.tw
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology
D000995:Antitubercular Agents