Challenges in access to health services and its impact on quality of life: a randomised population-based survey within Turkish speaking immigrants in London

• Published in: Health and quality of life outcomes 2012-01, Vol.10 (1), p.11-11
• Main Authors: Topal, Kenan, Eser, Erhan, Sanberk, Ismail, Bayliss, Elizabeth, Saatci, Esra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: accessibility; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Chi-Square Distribution; Community; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Education; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health care access; Health services; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data; Health Surveys; Humans; Immigrants; Immigration policy; Likert scale; Linguistics; Logistic Models; London; Male; Medicine; Middle Aged; Migration; Multivariate Analysis; Noncitizens; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Risk Assessment; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Studies; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Turkey - ethnology; Turkish immigrants; United Kingdom; University faculty; Urban Population; well-being; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1477-7525; 1477-7525
• DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-10-11

There are a significant number of Turkish speaking immigrants living in London. Their special health issues including women's health, mental health, and alcohol and smoking habits has been assessed. The aim of this study was to explore the ongoing challenges in access to health care services and its impact on Quality of Life of immigrants. This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted between March and August 2010 with Turkish immigrants (n = 416) living in London. Of these, 308 (74%) were Turkish and 108 (26%) were Turkish Cypriots. All healthy or unhealthy adults of 17-65 years of age were enrolled. A structured questionnaire with 44 items in five subcategories and 26-items WHOQOL BREF were used. Mean duration of stay for Turkish Cypriots (26.9 ± 13.9 years) was significantly longer than Turkish immigrants (13.3 ± 7.5) (p < 0.001). Turkish immigrants (n = 108, 36.5%) need interpretation more often when using health services than Turkish Cypriots (n = 16, 15%) (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses suggested significant effects of older age, non-homeownership, low socioeconomic class, poor access to health services, being ill, poor community integration and being obese on physical well-being and also significant effects of low income and poor community integration on perceived overall Quality of Life (WHOQOL) of the participants. The results of this study demonstrate how the health and well-being of members of the Turkish speaking community living in London are affected by social aspects of their lives. Providing culturally competent care and interpretation services and advocacy may improve the accessibility of the health care.