Details:

Alternative Title:
BMC Cancer
Personal Author:
Ko, Linda K. ; Taylor, Victoria M. ; Yoon, Jihye ; Copeland, Wade K. ; Hwang, Joo Ha ; ... More +
Ko, Linda K. ; Taylor, Victoria M. ; Yoon, Jihye ; Copeland, Wade K. ; Hwang, Joo Ha ; Lee, Eun Jeong ; Inadomi, John Less -
Description:
Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Korean Americans (KAs) in part due to low screening rates. Recent studies suggest that some KA patients engage in medical tourism and receive medical care in their home country. The impact of medical tourism on CRC screening is unknown. The purpose of this paper was to 1) investigate the frequency of medical tourism, 2) examine the association between medical tourism and CRC screening, and 3) characterize KA patients who engage in medical tourism.

Methods

This is a community-based, cross-sectional study involving self-administered questionnaires conducted from August 2013 to October 2013. Data was collected on 193 KA patients, ages 50–75, residing in the Seattle metropolitan area. The outcome variable is up-to-date with CRC screening, defined as having had a stool test (Fecal Occult Blood Test or Fecal Immunochemical Test) within the past year or a colonoscopy within 10 years. Predictor variables are socio-demographics, health factors, acculturation, knowledge, financial concerns for medical care costs, and medical tourism.

Results

In multi-variate modeling, medical tourism was significantly related to being up-to-date with CRC screening. Participants who engaged in medical tourism had 8.91 (95% CI: 3.89–23.89) greater odds of being up-to-date with CRC screening compared to those who did not travel for healthcare. Factors associated with engaging in medical tourism were lack of insurance coverage (P = 0.008), higher levels of education (P = 0.003), not having a usual place of care (P = 0.002), older age at immigration (P = 0.009), shorter years-of-stay in the US (P = 0.003), and being less likely to speak English well (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

This study identifies the impact of medical tourism on CRC screening and characteristics of KA patients who report engaging in medical tourism. Healthcare providers in the US should be aware of the customary nature of medical tourism among KAs and consider assessing medical tests done abroad when providing cancer care.

Trial registration

Not applicable.


Subjects:
[+]
Colorectal Cancer Screening Korean Americans Medical Tourism Research Article
Source:
BMC Cancer. 16.
Pubmed ID:
27905896
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC5134124
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
U48 DP005013/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:ff8d4b7409550c25c6e0169dc868786456d7067b18cc9dff77098a7f7b995bc8
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/44861/cdc_44861_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 12885_2016_Article_2965.nxml

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