The Perceptions of Older Turkish Immigrants of the Healthcare Professionals in their Home and Host Countries

Year 2018, Volume: 4 Issue: 7, 50 - 59, 31.10.2018

Nilüfer Korkmaz Yaylagül , Suzan Yazıcı Ahmet Melik Baş Yusuf Cem Yerli

Abstract

The Turkish
immigrants use of the health services in Turkey has increased because during
their retirement they spend more time in Turkey and also since they are at an
older age they have more chronic illnesses. This research is focused on the perceptions
of Turkish immigrants living in Europe towards the healthcare professionals in
Turkey and their host countries. Qualitative method has been used, whereby
Turkish immgirants living in Denmark, Britain (UK) and Germany (a total of 67
individuals over the age of 50) have been interviewed using a semi-structured
questionnaire.

The immigrants perception about healthcare
professionals are found to be two-dimentional. The Turkish physicians are
preferred for promt diagnosing and treatment, however the health professionals
of the host countries were found to be more humane and reliable. The respondents
are frequently treated by their family physicians in their host countries and
are generally satisfied. The main dissatisfaction from family pyhsicians are the
barriers to advanced investigations and specialist referrals. The respondents
use the Turkish health system in order to be examined by specialists and get
advanced investigations done. Their perceptions of healthcare professionals are
shaped pragmatically at practical level.

Keywords

health professional, older immigrant

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