ABSTRACT
Purpose The number of Vietnamese technical intern trainees is increasing annually due to the revision of the Immigration Control Law in Japan. However, there are few studies focusing on the trainees’ health issues and medical consultations. This study aims to clarify the difficulties they face in obtaining healthcare services after coming to Japan.Method Semi-structured interviews regarding the difficulties faced by trainees in accessing medical services were conducted. Twelve Vietnamese technical intern trainees (eight men [66.6%] and four women [33.4%] with an average age of 26.3 years and average stay period of 2 years and 3 months) living in the Kansai area were interviewed. Data analysis was conducted using a qualitative descriptive method.Results and Discussion Four categories of difficulties in receiving medical treatment were found: “no hospital visits unless the situation worsens,” “inability to receive medical services without the support of company or supervising organization officials,” “inability to seek confirmation even if they have questions or are dissatisfied,” and “hesitation for seeking medical help due to work and scheduling.” For Vietnamese technical intern trainees, the company or supervising organization officials’ support played an important role in accessing medical services. Moreover, even if the trainees had doubts or dissatisfactions, they were unable to ask questions and receive confirmation. Therefore, it is necessary not only to actively explain the need for medical services to the company or supervising organization officials but also to ask the trainees if they have any doubts.Conclusion The company and supervising organization official’s support played an important role at accessing medical service. It will be essential to cooperate not only with them but also with the occupational health field and regional medical institutions.
ABSTRACT
Introduction The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors related to the mental health of technical intern trainees from the Philippines in Japan, which focus on the relationship between their acculturation strategies and mental health.Method Mental health, acculturation strategies, acculturative stress, job stress, social support and demographic factors including Japanese language proficiency were used for the variables in the English version of self-administered questionnaire. A total of 180 (115 men, 47 women and 16 gender unreported) Filipino technical intern trainees participated in this study. The data of 132 (95 men, 37 women) participants who completely answered the questionnaires were analyzed.Results Results showed that gender, marital status, existence of children, Japanese language proficiency, acculturation strategies and acculturative stress were significantly related to the mental health of Filipino technical intern trainees. Results also showed that social support was significantly related to Japanese language proficiency and acculturation strategies for acquisition of Japanese culture. Conclusions Findings suggest that factors contributing to the worsening of mental health of Filipino technical intern trainees are (a) being male, (b) existence of a child/children, (c) single marital status, (d) low Japanese language proficiency, (e) low acquisition of Japanese culture, and (f) high acculturative stress. Findings also suggest low levels of social support are risk factors related to low Japanese language proficiency and low acquisition of Japanese culture. Support programs for improvement in Japanese language skill and familiarizing with Japanese culture may be an effective way to maintain positive mental health in Filipino technical intern trainees. In addition, an establishment of environment to be able to easily and adequately receive psychological support from their family members living in the Philippines may be important to their mental well-being.
ABSTRACT
Introduction The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors related to the mental health of technical intern trainees from the Philippines in Japan, which focus on the relationship between their acculturation strategies and mental health.Method Mental health, acculturation strategies, acculturative stress, job stress, social support and demographic factors including Japanese language proficiency were used for the variables in the English version of self-administered questionnaire. A total of 180 (115 men, 47 women and 16 gender unreported) Filipino technical intern trainees participated in this study. The data of 132 (95 men, 37 women) participants who completely answered the questionnaires were analyzed.Results Results showed that gender, marital status, existence of children, Japanese language proficiency, acculturation strategies and acculturative stress were significantly related to the mental health of Filipino technical intern trainees. Results also showed that social support was significantly related to Japanese language proficiency and acculturation strategies for acquisition of Japanese culture. Conclusions Findings suggest that factors contributing to the worsening of mental health of Filipino technical intern trainees are (a) being male, (b) existence of a child/children, (c) single marital status, (d) low Japanese language proficiency, (e) low acquisition of Japanese culture, and (f) high acculturative stress. Findings also suggest low levels of social support are risk factors related to low Japanese language proficiency and low acquisition of Japanese culture. Support programs for improvement in Japanese language skill and familiarizing with Japanese culture may be an effective way to maintain positive mental health in Filipino technical intern trainees. In addition, an establishment of environment to be able to easily and adequately receive psychological support from their family members living in the Philippines may be important to their mental well-being.