Digital Information Technology Use and Transnational Healthcare: A Population-Based Study on Older Russian-Speaking Migrants in Finland

Abstract

This study examines the association between digital information technology (DIT) use and the utilization of transnational healthcare (THC) in older migrants, and investigates how this relationship depends on social integration or perceived discrimination in health services in the destination country. The data from a population-based study conducted in Finland in 2019, which targeted Russian-speaking residents aged 50 and above (n = 1082) nationwide, are analyzed. The analysis demonstrates that those who had a high level of DIT use were significantly more likely to use THC than those who had a low level of use. However, the findings do not show that the relationship depends on social integration or perceived discrimination. Older migrants can actively use transnational networks to address their health and well-being issues by using DIT and seeking healthcare abroad. Their health service use can be illustrated as an active process involving various geographical domains.

Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland

“…Furthermore, difficulties in accessing healthcare may prompt individuals to seek health information from unreliable sources or travel abroad for medical care [ 57 ]. Previous study showed that in 2019 a quarter of midlife and older Russian-speaking migrants had used healthcare services outside Finland in the last 12 months [ 58 ]. While opting for transnational healthcare can offer opportunities for receiving culturally preferred styles of care, it can also bring challenges such as potential double medication, and delays or discontinuity in the provision of care.…”

Health service behaviors of migrants: A conceptual framework

“…Some variables are immigrant-specific factors. Acculturation measured by language and communication (21, 180), discrimination experiences (188), and cultural differences (183,193) was associated with immigrants' medical locations for which the latter yielded mixed results (192). In addition, medical culture was previously mentioned in studies on immigrants (21,181,182,187).…”

“…The perception of availability (182,185), including convenience (186) and time availability (21), was reported to be associated with immigrants' medical returns. Furthermore, immigrants who had a high level of digital information technology use were more likely to undertake medical tourism than others with less technology use (192).…”

“…Social integration was associated with immigrants' (188) and IMs' (e.g., permanent settlement intention (18,191)) medical locations. The immigrant population had a mixed result (192) in terms of social integration. Duration at the destinations was another factor associated with the healthcare locations of IMs (190).…”

Trends in Population-Based Studies: Molecular and Digital Epidemiology (Review)

“…Though the epidemiology of chronic noncommunicable diseases in Russia is still lagging behind infectious diseases [ 47 ], there is a need to create and implement digital services for epidemiology of chronic noncommunicable diseases [ 48 ]. The need is owing to the increase of omics technologies’ availability, the accumulation of the many years results of research, the need to compare the findings of similar studies, and the increased requirements for practical application and implementation of the results [ 47 , 49 ].…”