Cultural Barriers to Effective Medical Care Among Indochinese Patients

Since 1975, over 600,000 Indochinese refugees have resettled in the United States. This patient population has significant personal health problems in need of medical treatment. However, Indochinese refugees frequently underutilize existing health care services. This, in part, results from major cul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of medicine 1985-01, Vol.36 (1), p.229-239
Main Authors: Hoang, G N, Erickson, R V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding
Attitude to Health
Biological and medical sciences
Cambodia - ethnology
Child
Culture
Delivery of Health Care
Environment. Living conditions
Ethnic Groups - psychology
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Language
Laos - ethnology
Male
Medical sciences
Medicine, Traditional
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Religion
Socioeconomic Factors
Tropical medicine
United States
Vietnam - ethnology
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Summary:Since 1975, over 600,000 Indochinese refugees have resettled in the United States. This patient population has significant personal health problems in need of medical treatment. However, Indochinese refugees frequently underutilize existing health care services. This, in part, results from major cultural barriers between patient and provider. A review is provided of the history of the recent Indochinese immigration and the cultural traits, religious beliefs, and health care practices of this refugee population. This information is provided in the hope that health care providers will learn to understand the Indochinese refugee as a patient and reduce those cultural barriers that appear to limit their access to medical care in this country.
ISSN:0066-4219
1545-326X
DOI:10.1146/annurev.me.36.020185.001305