Unseen Struggles: Visualizing Barriers in Healthcare Access and Utilization Among Skilled Immigrants in America.
Background: While much of the existing literature focuses on immigrant populations' general access to care, limited attention has been given to the experiences of skilled immigrant workers—a growing majority of immigrants in the United States. This study fills a critical gap by examining the unique...
| Publicado en: | Health & Social Care in the Community Vol. 2026; pp. 1 - 12 |
|---|---|
| Autor principal: | |
| Formato: | pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
Wiley-Blackwell
8/31/2026
|
| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=196657542&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 196657542 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 09660410 EVX jtl: Health & Social Care in the Community issn: 09660410 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: 8/31/2026 vid: 2026 pid: 480 pub: Wiley-Blackwell place: Malden, Massachusetts artinfo: ui: 196657542 196657542 196657542 10.1155/hsc/6479822 196657542 ppf: 1 ppct: 11 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: C – @attributes: type: P tig: atl: Unseen Struggles: Visualizing Barriers in Healthcare Access and Utilization Among Skilled Immigrants in America. aug: au: Imanpour, Sara affil: School of Business, , Pennsylvania State University, , Harrisburg, USA, psu.edu sug: subj: Health Services Accessibility Health Resource Utilization Immigrants Psychosocial Factors Healthcare Disparities Photography Patient Attitudes Human Focus Groups Grounded Theory Health Literacy Fear Discrimination Culture Holistic Care Stigma United States Action Research Adult Middle Age Purposive Sample Male Female Armenia Iran Afghanistan Iraq Syria Palestine Turkiye Qualitative Studies Adult: 19-44 years Middle Aged: 45-64 years Male Female ab: Background: While much of the existing literature focuses on immigrant populations' general access to care, limited attention has been given to the experiences of skilled immigrant workers—a growing majority of immigrants in the United States. This study fills a critical gap by examining the unique barriers that skilled immigrants encounter when accessing and utilizing healthcare services. Method: Using photovoice methodology, this study engaged skilled immigrants in visually documenting and narrating their healthcare experiences. Transcripts from focus group discussions were analyzed using grounded theory, with Kilbourne's framework for health disparities guiding the interpretation of findings across individual, provider, and system‐level domains. Results: At the individual level, participants reported limited health literacy and a fear of being judged or discriminated against, which hindered their ability to advocate for their health. Cultural disconnects during medical encounters further exacerbated these challenges. At the provider level, participants identified a lack of holistic and culturally responsive care. System‐level barriers included fragmented care coordination and the absence of outreach programs to engage and support skilled immigrant communities. Conclusions: Skilled immigrants face a distinct set of healthcare barriers shaped by cultural dissonance, perceived stigma, and systemic inattention to their needs. Their reluctance to seek clarification or assert their health concerns—often rooted in their high‐status professional backgrounds—underscores the inadequacy of a one‐size‐fits‐all healthcare system. Addressing these multifaceted barriers is crucial to advancing health equity and designing inclusive care models that recognize the complex realities of skilled immigrant populations. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
|---|