Data from: Factors affecting Japanese retirees’ healthcare service utilisation in Malaysia – a qualitative study

Objective: Living overseas in another culture, the retirees need to adapt to new environment but often this causes difficulties, particularly among the elderly who are having health problems. This study aims to examine factors affecting healthcare service utilisation among Japanese retirees in Malaysia.
Design: We conducted focus group discussions with Japanese retirees and in-depth interviews with government officials, travel agents, hospital managers and Japanese interpreters in the selected private hospitals. Guided by the Andersen Healthcare Utilisation Model, we analysed the data using the directed content analysis method.
Setting: We interviewed participants at Japan Clubs and their offices.
Participants: They were thirty Japanese retirees who live in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, and eight officers representing services providers.
Results: Three themes, health beliefs, medical symptoms and health insurance were identified which align with the theory. Additionally, language barriers, voluntary health repatriation to Japan and receiving psychological/psychiatric support and treatment were found as unique factors which influence healthcare utilisation among Japanese retirees.
Conclusions: The healthcare utilisation of Japanese retirees in Malaysia could be partially explained by the Andersen Healthcare Utilisation Model, together with some factors that were unique findings to this study. Healthcare utilisation among Japanese retirees in Malaysia could be improved by alleviating negative health beliefs through awareness programmes for Japanese retirees about the healthcare systems and cultural aspects of medical care in Malaysia.

研究目标：旅居异国文化环境中，退休人员需适应全新生活环境，但常遭遇适应困难，合并基础疾病的老年群体尤为如此。本研究旨在探究影响马来西亚境内日本退休人员医疗服务利用的相关因素。
研究设计：本研究针对马来西亚选定私立医院内的日本退休人员开展焦点小组讨论，同时对政府官员、旅行社从业者、医院管理人员及日语口译人员进行深度访谈。本研究以安德森医疗服务利用模型（Andersen Healthcare Utilisation Model）为理论框架，采用定向内容分析法对采集数据进行分析。
研究场景：访谈均在日本俱乐部及相关机构办公场所完成。
研究对象：共计30名居住于吉隆坡与怡保的日本退休人员，以及8名代表各类服务提供方的公职人员。
研究结果：本研究识别出与理论框架契合的三大主题，即健康信念、临床症状与健康保险。此外，还发现语言障碍、自愿返回日本接受医疗救治、以及获取心理/精神科支持与治疗，均为影响马来西亚日本退休人员医疗服务利用的独特影响因素。
研究结论：马来西亚境内日本退休人员的医疗服务利用情况，可通过安德森医疗服务利用模型与本研究独有的若干影响因素得到部分解释。通过面向日本退休人员开展马来西亚医疗体系与当地医疗文化相关的认知宣教项目，可缓解其负面健康信念，进而改善其在马医疗服务利用状况。