title: Insurance, acculturation, and health service utilization among Korean-Americans.
abstract: This study describes the pattern and predictors of ambulatory care utilization among Korean Americans (KAs) living in Los Angeles. Data were gathered via a mail survey. Analysis employed a two-part model: logit model for factors affecting any health care use and truncated negative binomial model for frequency of use given one visit. Use of ambulatory care among KAs was low (2.80 visits during prior 12 months), compared to their counterparts in South Korea and the U.S. population. Variables associated with higher utilization included old age, health needs, and health insurance. Income had a positive effect on health care utilization decisions among the uninsured. Acculturation appeared to be neither a strong nor consistent predictor of ambulatory care utilization among KAs. Of particular concern is the finding that KAs suffer from inadequate access to care due to lack of employment-based health insurance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Hosung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Howin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jinsook
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Janice C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Probst
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires