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Transnational Healthcare Preferences Among EU Nationals in the UK: A Qualitative Assessment

Authors
Affiliations

Chris Moreh

Newcastle University

Derek McGhee

Keele University

Athina Vlachantoni

University of Southampton

10.1177/13607804211058744
Abstract
This article explores the motivational factors behind preferences for medical care in the country of residence or the country of origin among EU nationals living in the UK. Undertaking a thematic analysis on a large-N qualitative data set, the article aims to establish a data-driven typology of motivations inductively. This provides an intermediary analysis between qualitative depth and quantitative operationalisability, contributing to the existing literature on healthcare location preferences among transnationally connected social groups. This article finds that preferences for medical care in the country of origin are driven overwhelmingly by quality considerations, while preferences for the UK have more to do with convenience and financing. These perceptions result from negative personal experiences, lack of trust, and often concealed cultural differences, and the analysis identifies various nuances and connections between attitudes that previous in-depth qualitative studies could not systematise.

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Citation

BibTeX citation:
@article{moreh2023,
  author = {Moreh, Chris and McGhee, Derek and Vlachantoni, Athina},
  title = {Transnational {Healthcare} {Preferences} {Among} {EU}
    {Nationals} in the {UK:} {A} {Qualitative} {Assessment}},
  journal = {Sociological Research Online},
  volume = {28},
  number = {2},
  pages = {462-481},
  date = {2023},
  doi = {10.1177/13607804211058744},
  langid = {en},
  abstract = {This article explores the motivational factors behind
    preferences for medical care in the country of residence or the
    country of origin among EU nationals living in the UK. Undertaking a
    thematic analysis on a large-N qualitative data set, the article
    aims to establish a data-driven typology of motivations inductively.
    This provides an intermediary analysis between qualitative depth and
    quantitative operationalisability, contributing to the existing
    literature on healthcare location preferences among transnationally
    connected social groups. This article finds that preferences for
    medical care in the country of origin are driven overwhelmingly by
    quality considerations, while preferences for the UK have more to do
    with convenience and financing. These perceptions result from
    negative personal experiences, lack of trust, and often concealed
    cultural differences, and the analysis identifies various nuances
    and connections between attitudes that previous in-depth qualitative
    studies could not systematise.}
}
For attribution, please cite this work as:
Moreh, Chris, Derek McGhee, and Athina Vlachantoni. 2023. “Transnational Healthcare Preferences Among EU Nationals in the UK: A Qualitative Assessment.” Sociological Research Online 28 (2): 462–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804211058744.