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Community health screenings provide both health care services and social networking opportunities among Chinese elders, and thus, affect their health-related quality of life. Older Chinese participants at a free monthly health screening hosted by Health Protection and Education Services were asked to explain why they visit health screenings and how do health screenings affect their health and social needs. Results show that free community health screenings are likely to lead to better quality of life in older Chinese attendees by reducing healthcare barriers, helping attendees to monitor their chronic conditions, and allowing them to strengthen their social connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do elderly Chinese persons living in the United States perceive the nature of sickness, and what do they think about American health care services? A sample of older Chinese people living in St. Louis were asked to explain their conception of sickness through sketching and answering survey questions regarding their use of health care services. Their responses show that Chinese elders rely on family members and church friends for healthcare access, such as transportation, and for language interpretation during physician visits. Moreover, they tend to interpret diseases that involve internal organs as major diseases, which require a clinical visit. Respondents who hold a visitor visa, are insured in China, experience symptoms involving internal structures and have lower English proficiency, are more likely to return to China for hospital visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]