Abstract:
This study used the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations to examine language as a barrier to accessing healthcare among Vietnamese immigrants. Thirty-six Vietnamese patients in a tax-supported, safety-net healthcare system in a large urban county in north Texas were interviewed in the fall of 2000. Non-English speakers were significantly less likely to be U.S. citizens or applicants for citizenship, or to work at a paying job, but more likely to need an interpreter during visits to the doctor, to need someone to go with them to the doctor, and to have problems with transportation to doctor visits. Non-English speakers were less healthy than the English speakers, being more likely to be in fair or poor health, limited in the amount of work they can do, anxious, and less likely to feel healthy and energetic. Non-English speakers were also less likely to have a regular source of healthcare. Recommendations for improvement of services included providing more translators, developing health education materials in Vietnamese, and working with community organizations to provide health education in a relevant cultural context.

Full Text Article

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Hypotheses
• Research Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• References
• Figure 1. Behavior Model for Vulnerable Populations
• Table 1. Frequency Table for Predisposing Variables
• Table 2. Frequencies for Enabling Variables
• Table 3. Frequencies for Health Variables
• Table 4. Frequency Table for Healthcare Utilization Variables
• Table 5. Relationship of Ability to Speak English to Predisposing Variables
• Table 6. Relationship of Ability to Speak English to Enabling Variables
• Table 7. Relationship of Ability to Speak English to Need Variables
• Table 8. Relationship of Ability to Speak English to Utilization Variables