A Mixed Methods Study of Health Care Experience Among Asian Indians in the Southeastern United States

Abstract

Purpose: The study explored health care experiences among Asian Indian immigrants living in the Southeastern United States. Design and Method: A concurrent triangulation mixed methods design was used with a purposive sample of 125 Asian Indian immigrants aged between 40 and 64 years in the survey and 10 participants in the focus group. Results: The majority of the participants had health insurance and higher socioeconomic status. They had a moderate level of knowledge on the U.S. health care system and health insurance while presenting moderate satisfaction with the system. Barriers to health care services and needs in the health care system were identified from both quantitative and qualitative data. Some of the barriers were high costs, dissatisfaction with services, and inconvenience in accessing services. Participants called for self-management and community-based health programs as well as culturally tailored health care services. Discussion and Conclusion: Findings congruent with prior studies further support the importance of comprehending Asian Indians’ unique cultural background and experiences in the health care system. This study can be the foundation for culturally competent care to advance the body of transcultural nursing knowledge. Implications for Practice: Culturally congruent community-based health care programs are needed to provide better care for the ethnic minority to maintain and promote their health status.

Keywords

health disparity Asian Indian immigrants minority health experience culture

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