Patterns of Health Services and Medicine Utilisation by First-Generation Pakistani Immigrants in New Zealand

IF 3 3区医学 Q2 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Health Expectations Pub Date : 2025-02-02 DOI:10.1111/hex.70169

Noor A. Mann, Zain A. Khan, Saima Asghar, Afshan Rani, Nadia Hussain, Sumera S. Akhtar, Susan Heydon, Mudassir Anwar

{"title":"Patterns of Health Services and Medicine Utilisation by First-Generation Pakistani Immigrants in New Zealand","authors":"Noor A. Mann, Zain A. Khan, Saima Asghar, Afshan Rani, Nadia Hussain, Sumera S. Akhtar, Susan Heydon, Mudassir Anwar","doi":"10.1111/hex.70169","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Introduction</h3>\n \n <p>The health-seeking patterns of the increasing Pakistani migrant population in New Zealand (NZ) is a subject of limited research in current literature. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate and understand the patterns of health services utilisation and medicine usage among first-generation Pakistani immigrants in NZ.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>Convenience and snowball sampling using social media platforms were used to conduct eleven semi-structured interviews consisting of two participants per interview. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed iteratively using an inductive thematic approach.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Self-medication emerged as a common practice by the majority of the participants and this practice stemmed from personal experiences, existing knowledge, and personal and cultural beliefs. However, participants had limited knowledge of the NZ health system and community pharmacy services and this led to conflicting expectations and outcomes. These factors serve as barriers to healthcare access for Pakistani immigrants and can result in adverse health outcomes and higher rates of dissatisfaction.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusion</h3>\n \n <p>This study highlights the healthcare challenges and behaviours of Pakistani immigrants in NZ, emphasising their reliance on traditional remedies and self-medication. While appreciating the quality of NZ's healthcare, participants faced barriers like cost and lack of awareness of pharmacy services. The findings call for culturally tailored strategies to improve accessibility and healthcare experiences for immigrants.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Patient or Public Contribution</h3>\n \n <p>Two individuals from the Pakistani community, not part of the study, contributed to the design by offering feedback and pilot testing the interview guide. Based on their input, adjustments were made to enhance the clarity of the questions from a patient's or public viewpoint. No new questions were proposed as a result of this feedback.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":55070,"journal":{"name":"Health Expectations","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/hex.70169","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Health Expectations","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/hex.70169","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

The health-seeking patterns of the increasing Pakistani migrant population in New Zealand (NZ) is a subject of limited research in current literature. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate and understand the patterns of health services utilisation and medicine usage among first-generation Pakistani immigrants in NZ.

Methods

Convenience and snowball sampling using social media platforms were used to conduct eleven semi-structured interviews consisting of two participants per interview. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed iteratively using an inductive thematic approach.

Results

Self-medication emerged as a common practice by the majority of the participants and this practice stemmed from personal experiences, existing knowledge, and personal and cultural beliefs. However, participants had limited knowledge of the NZ health system and community pharmacy services and this led to conflicting expectations and outcomes. These factors serve as barriers to healthcare access for Pakistani immigrants and can result in adverse health outcomes and higher rates of dissatisfaction.

Conclusion

This study highlights the healthcare challenges and behaviours of Pakistani immigrants in NZ, emphasising their reliance on traditional remedies and self-medication. While appreciating the quality of NZ's healthcare, participants faced barriers like cost and lack of awareness of pharmacy services. The findings call for culturally tailored strategies to improve accessibility and healthcare experiences for immigrants.

Patient or Public Contribution

Two individuals from the Pakistani community, not part of the study, contributed to the design by offering feedback and pilot testing the interview guide. Based on their input, adjustments were made to enhance the clarity of the questions from a patient's or public viewpoint. No new questions were proposed as a result of this feedback.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Health Expectations 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.20

自引率

9.40%

发文量

251

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Health Expectations promotes critical thinking and informed debate about all aspects of patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) in health and social care, health policy and health services research including: • Person-centred care and quality improvement • Patients'' participation in decisions about disease prevention and management • Public perceptions of health services • Citizen involvement in health care policy making and priority-setting • Methods for monitoring and evaluating participation • Empowerment and consumerism • Patients'' role in safety and quality • Patient and public role in health services research • Co-production (researchers working with patients and the public) of research, health care and policy Health Expectations is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal publishing original research, review articles and critical commentaries. It includes papers which clarify concepts, develop theories, and critically analyse and evaluate specific policies and practices. The Journal provides an inter-disciplinary and international forum in which researchers (including PPIE researchers) from a range of backgrounds and expertise can present their work to other researchers, policy-makers, health care professionals, managers, patients and consumer advocates.