Abstract
This paper assesses whether the same factors are predictive of health service utilization among this ethnic group as is true of the general population of seniors. The data suggest that the health of Chinese elders is just as bad as other seniors, and their utilization is very similar. They have a strong preference for Western over Chinese medicine and for Western trained doctors over Chinese practitioners, and use services with Chinese staff, probably because of language. Similarly, the predictors of service use are strikingly similar to predictors revealed in utilization studies throughout the industrialized world. Ability to speak English, immigration history, and country of origin are unrelated to the use of these services. However, approximately half of Chinese seniors also engage in traditional Chinese care. Religious beliefs and a preference for traditional Chinese medicine are strongly predictive of the use of traditional care. It would appear that distinctive culture is related to the use of traditional care, but not the use of the western health care system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, K. J. (1991). Racial discourse in Canada, 1875–1980: Race, place, and the power of definition. In K. J. Anderson (ed.). Vancouver's Chinatown (pp. 8–33). Montreal/Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press.
Anderson, J. M., Wiggins, S., Rajwani, R., Holbrook, A., Blue, C & Ng, M. (1995). Living with a chronic illness: Chinese-Canadian and Euro-Canadian women with diabetes – exploring factors that influence management, Soc. Sci. Med. 41(2): 181–195.
Burr, J. A. & Mutchler, J. E. (1993). Nativity, acculturation, and economic status: Explanations of Asian American living arrangement in later life, The Journal of Gerontology 48(2): S55–S63.
Canada, House of Commons (1988). 2nd Session, 33rd Parliament. Bill C–93 The Canadian Multiculturalism Act, passed on 12 July 1988.
Chappell, N. L. (1991). Living arrangements and sources of caregiving, Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 46(1): S1–S8.
Chappell, N. L. (1994). Home care research: What does it tell us, The Gerontologist 34(1): 116–120.
Chappell, N. L. & Blandford, A. A. (1987). Health service utilization by elderly persons, Canadian Journal of Sociology 12(3): 195–215.
Chappell, N. L. & Havens, B. (1985). Who helps the elderly person?: A discussion of informal and formal care. In W. Peterson & J. Quadagno (eds.), Social bonds in later life. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
China Research Centre on Aging (1992). Survey data on China support systems for the elderly. Beijing (Figures compiled by Lai and Chappell from pp. 3 and 44–54).
Chuanyi, Z. & Qin, X. (1992). Family care of the elderly in China: Changes and problems. In J. I. K. (ed.), Family care of the elderly: social and cultural changes (pp. 67–81). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Disman, M. (1984). Explorations in ethnic identity, oldness, and continuity. Paper presented at the annual meetings of the Gerontological Society of America, San Antonio, Texas.
Driedger, L. & Chappell, N. (1987). Aging and ethnicity, toward an interface. Toronto: Butterworths.
Gibson, R. C. (1989). Minority aging research: Opportunity and challenge, Journal of Gerontology 44: S2–S3.
Ho, M. K. (1976). Social work with Asian Americans, Social Casework 57(3): 195–201.
Hsia, L. B. (1993). China. In E. B. Palmore (ed.), Developments and research on aging: An international handbook (pp. 59–72). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Ikels, C. (1990). The resolution of intergenerational conflict: Perspectives of elders and their family members, Modern China 16: 379–406.
Kitano, H. H. L., Lubben, J. E., Berkanovic, E., Chi, I., Zhang, C. C. & Zhu, X. Z. (1991). A cross national study of elderly Chinese and Chinese Americans. Proceedings of the International Conference on Care of the Elderly, Hong Kong.
Lai, D. C. (1988). Chinatowns: towns within cities in Canada. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
Lai, D. W. L. (1994). Perceived adjustment problems and service needs of a group of inner city Chinese elderly. Paper presented at the Canadian Association on Gerontology, 23rd annual scientific and educational meeting, 'Helping Families Coping – Health Care in the 90s', Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Lee, J. (1986). Asian American elderly: A neglected minority group, Journal of Gerontological Social Work 9(4): 103–116.
Li. P. S. (1985). The use of oral history in studying elderly Chinese-Canadians, Canadian Ethnic Studies 17(1): 67–77.
Lubben, J. E. & Becerra, R. M. (1987). Social support among Black, Mexican, and Chinese elderly. In D. E. Gelfand and C. M. Barresi (eds.), Ethnic dimensions of aging (pp. 130–144). New York: Springer Verlag.
MacLean, M. J., Siew, N., Fowler, D. & Graham, I. (1987). Institutional racism in old age: Theoretical perspectives and a case study about access to social services, Canadian Journal on Aging 6(2): 128–140.
Matsuoka, A. K. (1993). Collecting qualitative data through interviews with ethnic older people, Canadian Journal on Aging 12(2): 216–232.
McDonald, J. R., Lai, D. W. L., Lam, A. & Poon, M-C. (1994). Chinese in Calgary: Health and social needs assessment. Paper presented at the Canadian Association on Geron-tology, 23rd annual scientific and education meeting, Helping Families Cope – Health Care in the 90s Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Oi Kwan Foundation (1988). A needs survey of the Chinese elderly in Calgary 1987: Findings and discussions. Calgary: Oi Kwan Foundation.
Statistics Canada (1994). Health status of Canadians' report of the 1991 general social survey (Catalogue No. 11–612E., No. 8). Ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Streib, G. F. (1987). Old age in sociocultural context: China and the United States, Journal of Aging Studies 1(2): 5–112.
Wong, P. T. P. & Reker, G. T. (1985). Stress, coping and well-being in Anglo and Chinese elderly, Canadian Journal on Aging 4(1): 29–37.
Wu, D. Y. H. & Tseng, W-S. (1985). Introduction: The characteristics of Chinese culture. Orlando: Academic Press.
Xintian, L. (1985). The effect of family on the mental health of the Chinese people. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Zhu, Xi-ying., Kitano, H., Chi, I., Lubben, J., Berkanovic, E. & Zhang, C. C. (1994). Living arrangements and family support of the elderly in Beijing. In G. H. Stopp Jr (ed.), International perspectives on healthcare for the elderly (pp. 69–83). New York: Peter Lang.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chappell, N.L., Lai, D. Health care service use by Chinese seniors in British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 13, 21–37 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006543117301
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006543117301