Healthcare-seeking behavior and awareness of physical therapy among Japanese residents in Thailand: a descriptive study.
Shigeharu Tanaka, Yu Inoue, Yuko Kaminiwa and 2 others
PMID 34083876WHAT IT FOUND
Japanese residents in Thailand mostly use hospitals, not physical therapy clinics.
Younger groups used PT more than older adults, who preferred prevention. Word-of-mouth was the main source of healthcare information.
Key findings
01Most participants had visited a hospital in Thailand and used Japanese language services there.
02Younger groups used physical therapy clinics more often than the oldest group, who used none.
03Word-of-mouth was the most common way participants learned about healthcare services.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used convenient sampling via an online questionnaire, which may introduce selection bias by excluding individuals without computer access. Participants were likely concentrated in Bangkok, limiting the generalizability of findings to Japanese residents in rural areas of Thailand where healthcare environments differ. The descriptive nature and categorical data limit the ability to draw causal conclusions about why certain groups use specific services.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest associated with this manuscript.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that physical therapy is widely accepted or utilized by Japanese residents in Thailand. While awareness exists, actual clinic use was very low, especially among older adults, and the study reflects preferences and behaviors rather than clinical outcomes or efficacy.