“I can wait until I return home”: healthcare utilization among Korean international students in the U.S.

Objective This study aimed to understand healthcare utilization behavior among Korean international students in the U.S. Participants and methods: Seventeen Korean international students in New York City participated in in-depth personal interviews. Results: The participants passively utilized U.S. healthcare by minimizing, avoiding, or delaying needed healthcare. However, they actively utilized transnational healthcare (in Korea) as an alternative strategy. Participants’ negative perception of the U.S. healthcare system (as a predisposing factor) influenced healthcare utilization in the U.S. The enabling transnational factors influenced their transnational healthcare utilization. Low perceived need for healthcare (as a need factor) determined the country where they utilized healthcare. Conclusion: Andersen’s healthcare utilization model is applicable in explaining healthcare utilization behavior among Korean international students, who could be considered a nontraditional vulnerable population. On-campus health education and promotion may help international students receive timely healthcare, especially those who do not return to their home country routinely.