Exploring the Medical Choices of Aboriginal Tribes: Using a Tribe in Sandimen Township as the Example

• Main Authors: LU, CHIEH-WEN, 呂杰文
• Other Authors: CHANG, CHIN-FEN
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/2fgbf7

碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 社會工作學系 === 107 === This study aims to explore the medical choices of aboriginal tribes, with regional hospitals and hospitals of higher levels targeted as the medical choices. Based on the author’s experience of summer internship in a medical center in Kaohsiung as well as field observations, it was found that instead of visiting an accessible nearby medical institution, the phenomenon of seeking medical attention in another county or city was seen. What were the reasons affecting their medical choices? Were there inconveniences or difficulties in seeking medical attention throughout the course of medical attention seeking? What were the opinions of the tribal people on this matter? Did they have access to other medical systems and display other health care behaviors? Did the tribal people use traditional therapies available in their tribe? From the perspective of the local residents, were there medical needs and expectations during the process of aboriginal tribes seeking medical attention? 　　A tribe in Pingtung County was selected as the research field. Purposive sampling and snowballing methods were adopted to find suitable respondents. Through the semi-structured in-depth interviews in the qualitative research method, the medical treatment experiences of the tribal residents were obtained. Then, the coding method in the grounded theory and the storyline technique were employed to compile data obtained. 　　From the research results the following parts were summarized: the factors affecting the medical attention seeking of the tribal residents included medical equipment and technology, personal habits, and religious faith. During the medical treatment process, difficulties and inconveniences such as commuting, living, financial situation, not knowing how to obtain welfare information, and so on existed. In terms of health care behaviors, Western Medicine was mainstream. The respondents all visited nearby clinics instead of going to major hospitals right from the start. They considered their disease condition and medical costs when choosing a suitable hospital; in terms of medication, medicine prescribed by the hospital was mainly taken, rather than buying over-the-counter drugs at pharmacies. Some respondents would not keep unconsumed medicine. If they felt discomfort, they would directly go to the doctors to get new medication prescribed; however, the respondents that paid periodic re-visits would keep their medicine for use when they ran out or felt pain again. The needs during the medical attention seeking process include transportation to the hospital, expectations for emergency medical care system change, medical interpreting during clinic visits, and assistance with medical fees. 　　Finally, it is expected that follow-up studies continue to explore on how Christianity and friends/relatives affect medical treatment behaviors, medical treatment behaviors of involuntary patients, medical transportation ridesharing, and medical interpreting in aboriginal languages.