Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesisResearch in context
Summary: Background: While Japan provides universal healthcare, immigrants may experience hampered access to healthcare. A comprehensive review of immigrant healthcare access is also lacking. This systematic review aims to examine barriers and facilitators of healthcare access among immigrants in J...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002700 |
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| author | Yu Par Khin Floret Maame Owusu Nobutoshi Nawa Pamela J. Surkan Takeo Fujiwara |
| author_facet | Yu Par Khin Floret Maame Owusu Nobutoshi Nawa Pamela J. Surkan Takeo Fujiwara |
| author_sort | Yu Par Khin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Background: While Japan provides universal healthcare, immigrants may experience hampered access to healthcare. A comprehensive review of immigrant healthcare access is also lacking. This systematic review aims to examine barriers and facilitators of healthcare access among immigrants in Japan. Methods: We searched for literature published in English and Japanese until January 9, 2024. Studies were included if they assessed factors influencing any stage of immigrants’ healthcare access, such as perceiving needs, seeking, reaching, utilizing healthcare and the consequences of healthcare, as defined by the Levesque framework. We performed a thematic analysis to further identify categories (PROSPERO: CRD42023418554). Findings: After screening 2791 articles, we identified 67 studies (40 quantitative, 23 qualitative, 4 mixed methods) meeting eligibility criteria. Limited healthcare information led immigrants to seek alternative information sources and affected immigrants' perceived healthcare needs. Longer duration of stay improved access to healthcare information. Cultural and healthcare system differences affected healthcare seeking. Reaching and utilizing healthcare were hindered by heavy workloads, undocumented status, financial hardship, and limited insurance but were facilitated by support from family and friends. The healthcare system was often insufficient to support immigrants’ language and cultural needs leading to dissatisfaction and poor compliance. Interpretation: Findings highlight the critical importance of a multidimensional approach to support immigrants in Japan, ranging from improving healthcare information access to creating immigrant-friendly health systems. More research is needed on the healthcare access among vulnerable immigrants, such as undocumented and low-skilled labor immigrants and children. Funding: No specific funding source supported this study. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7988046a798c471fb4a99e928f50d47e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-6065 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific |
| spelling | doaj-art-7988046a798c471fb4a99e928f50d47e2025-01-11T06:42:03ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific2666-60652025-01-0154101276Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesisResearch in contextYu Par Khin0Floret Maame Owusu1Nobutoshi Nawa2Pamela J. Surkan3Takeo Fujiwara4Department of Public Health, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Well-being Research Advancement, Institute of Science Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Well-being Research Advancement, Institute of Science Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Well-being Research Advancement, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan; Corresponding author. Department of Public Health, Institute of Science Tokyo, M&D Tower 16F, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.Department of Public Health, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USADepartment of Public Health, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Well-being Research Advancement, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan; Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USASummary: Background: While Japan provides universal healthcare, immigrants may experience hampered access to healthcare. A comprehensive review of immigrant healthcare access is also lacking. This systematic review aims to examine barriers and facilitators of healthcare access among immigrants in Japan. Methods: We searched for literature published in English and Japanese until January 9, 2024. Studies were included if they assessed factors influencing any stage of immigrants’ healthcare access, such as perceiving needs, seeking, reaching, utilizing healthcare and the consequences of healthcare, as defined by the Levesque framework. We performed a thematic analysis to further identify categories (PROSPERO: CRD42023418554). Findings: After screening 2791 articles, we identified 67 studies (40 quantitative, 23 qualitative, 4 mixed methods) meeting eligibility criteria. Limited healthcare information led immigrants to seek alternative information sources and affected immigrants' perceived healthcare needs. Longer duration of stay improved access to healthcare information. Cultural and healthcare system differences affected healthcare seeking. Reaching and utilizing healthcare were hindered by heavy workloads, undocumented status, financial hardship, and limited insurance but were facilitated by support from family and friends. The healthcare system was often insufficient to support immigrants’ language and cultural needs leading to dissatisfaction and poor compliance. Interpretation: Findings highlight the critical importance of a multidimensional approach to support immigrants in Japan, ranging from improving healthcare information access to creating immigrant-friendly health systems. More research is needed on the healthcare access among vulnerable immigrants, such as undocumented and low-skilled labor immigrants and children. Funding: No specific funding source supported this study.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002700AccessHealthcareImmigrantsJapan |
| spellingShingle | Yu Par Khin Floret Maame Owusu Nobutoshi Nawa Pamela J. Surkan Takeo Fujiwara Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesisResearch in context The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific Access Healthcare Immigrants Japan |
| title | Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesisResearch in context |
| title_full | Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesisResearch in context |
| title_fullStr | Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesisResearch in context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesisResearch in context |
| title_short | Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesisResearch in context |
| title_sort | barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in japan a mixed methods systematic review and meta synthesisresearch in context |
| topic | Access Healthcare Immigrants Japan |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002700 |
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