New Health and Medicine Findings from University of Malaya Reported (Factors affecting Japanese retirees’ healthcare service utilisation in Malaysia:…

Health & Medicine Week

New Health and Medicine Findings from University of Malaya Reported (Factors affecting Japanese retirees' healthcare service utilisation in Malaysia: a qualitative study)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- Investigators publish new report on Health and Medicine. According to news reporting from Kyoto, Japan, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, "While living overseas in another culture, retirees need to adapt to a new environment but often this causes difficulties, particularly among those elderly who require healthcare services. This study examines factors affecting healthcare service utilisation among Japanese retirees in Malaysia."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of Malaya, "We conducted 6 focus group discussions with Japanese retirees and interviewed 8 relevant medical services providers in-depth. Guided by the Andersen Healthcare Utilisation Model, we managed and analysed the data, using QSR NVivo 10 software and the directed content analysis method. We interviewed participants at Japan Clubs and their offices. 30 Japanese retirees who live in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, and 8 medical services providers. We identified health beliefs, medical symptoms and health insurance as the 3 most important themes, respectively, representing the 3 dimensions within the Andersen Healthcare Utilisation Model. Additionally, language barriers, voluntary health repatriation to Japan and psychological support were unique themes that influence healthcare service utilisation among Japanese retirees. The healthcare service utilisation among Japanese retirees in Malaysia could be partially explained by the Andersen Healthcare Utilisation Model, together with some factors that were unique findings to this study."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Healthcare service utilisation among Japanese retirees in Malaysia could be improved by alleviating negative health beliefs through awareness programmes for Japanese retirees about the healthcare systems and cultural aspects of medical care in Malaysia."

For more information on this research see: Factors affecting Japanese retirees' healthcare service utilisation in Malaysia: a qualitative study. Bmj Open, 2016;6(3):e010668. (BMJ Publishing Group - group.bmj.com/; Bmj Open - bmjopen.bmj.com/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting A. Kohno, Dept. of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Dept. of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan. Additional authors for this research include N.D. Nik Farid, G. Musa, N. Abdul Aziz, T. Nakayama and M. Dahlui (see also Health and Medicine).

Keywords for this news article include: Kyoto, Malaysia, Health and Medicine.