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Abstract
Immigrant students face a myriad of problems in the United States. This study describes the experiences of immigrant college students with their American physicians. The study was conducted in the mid-west. One hundred and forty questionnaires were distributed to participants, and 86 answered the questionnaires giving a response rate of 61%. Aspects of qualitative methods-the Constant Comparative method and the Phenomenological approach-were used in this research. Findings indicated that the students were dissatisfied with some of the services received from their American physicians, but indicated that the American physicians were more helpful than physicians in their home countries. Recommendations include that American physicians take into consideration the culture of immigrants when providing services.
Keywords: Immigrants, American physicians, college students, culture
Introduction
Preventative healthcare, which includes screening and regular check-ups, are an integral part of health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that routine visits to the one's healthcare provider can extend life expectancy and decrease the cost of medical care (1). Immigrants in the United States (US) are from diverse backgrounds (2-5). Hispanic and Asian Americans make up the fastest growing sector of the US population (6). Often times immigrants are unable to access, seek, or receive health care due to barriers. A study that examined responses of a nationally representative database of recent immigrants found that those who migrate to the US frequently experience a lack of access, high costs, and difficulty obtaining medical insurance along with barriers such as access to information, cultural or linguistic obstacles, and an inability to understand the US healthcare system (6). Gaining a better understanding of the experiences that immigrants undergo in the healthcare system is thus important.
The period when individuals enter college marks a period of transition from adolescence to adulthood. For many university students, college may be the first time away from home where they must independently make decisions. College students are regarded as a vulnerable population who are susceptible to many health problems. Research has illustrated that the period of adolescence is a stage when risky behavior is most common (7). Therefore, access to care is imperative for this subpopulation. The disposition of an international college student is vastly different from that of the traditional native college student. International...