Health care utilization of later-stage immigrants in British Columbia

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Résumé (français)

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Résumé (anglais)

Using the 2000-01 Canadian Community Health Survey (Cycle 1.1), British Columbia component, this study compares later-stage immigrants (individuals aged => 45 year upon immigration) to non-immigrants in terms of health care utilization. The findings indicate that later-stage immigrants utilize fewer health care resources than non-immigrants; in specific, later-stage immigrants have a lower hospitalization rate, fewer medical doctor visits, and fewer non-medical doctor visits. Health care utilization among later-stage immigrants is also lower compared to immigrants whose age at immigration was under 45 years. Except for non-medical doctor usage, this study observes that these health care utilization differences disappear after introducing controls for medical needs, and a comparatively low prevalence of chronic conditions among later-stage immigrants appears to account for their lower health resources consumption. The difference in non-medical doctor visits between later-stage immigrants and non-immigrants attenuates after introducing controls based on the Andersen-Newman model of health care utilization. These results suggest that socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics account for an under-utilization of non-MD care among later-stage immigrants.