Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicates that individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more prone to mental health issues than the general population; however, there is a significant lack of data concerning the mental health burden in Chinese Americans with T2D.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the comorbid mental health status, health-seeking behaviors, and mental service utilization among Chinese Americans with T2D.
METHODS: A cross-sectional telephone survey was performed among 74 Chinese Americans with T2D in New York City. We used standardized questionnaires to assess mental health status and to gather data on mental health-seeking behaviors and service utilization. Descriptive statistics were applied for data analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 74 Chinese Americans with T2D completed the survey. Most participants (mean age 56, SD 10 years) identified as female (42/74, 57%), were born outside the United States (73/74, 99%), and had limited English proficiency (71/74, 96%). Despite nearly half of the participants (34/74, 46%) reporting at least one mental health concern (elevated stress, depressive symptoms, and/or anxiety), only 3% (2/74) were currently using mental health services. Common reasons for not seeking care included no perceived need, lack of information about Chinese-speaking providers, cost, and time constraints. The cultural and language competence of the provider was ranked as the top factor related to seeking mental health care.
CONCLUSIONS: Chinese Americans with T2D experience relatively high comorbid mental health concerns yet have low service utilization. Clinicians may consider team-based care to incorporate mental health screening and identify strategies to provide culturally and linguistically concordant mental health services to engage Chinese Americans with T2D.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the comorbid mental health status, health-seeking behaviors, and mental service utilization among Chinese Americans with T2D.
METHODS: A cross-sectional telephone survey was performed among 74 Chinese Americans with T2D in New York City. We used standardized questionnaires to assess mental health status and to gather data on mental health-seeking behaviors and service utilization. Descriptive statistics were applied for data analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 74 Chinese Americans with T2D completed the survey. Most participants (mean age 56, SD 10 years) identified as female (42/74, 57%), were born outside the United States (73/74, 99%), and had limited English proficiency (71/74, 96%). Despite nearly half of the participants (34/74, 46%) reporting at least one mental health concern (elevated stress, depressive symptoms, and/or anxiety), only 3% (2/74) were currently using mental health services. Common reasons for not seeking care included no perceived need, lack of information about Chinese-speaking providers, cost, and time constraints. The cultural and language competence of the provider was ranked as the top factor related to seeking mental health care.
CONCLUSIONS: Chinese Americans with T2D experience relatively high comorbid mental health concerns yet have low service utilization. Clinicians may consider team-based care to incorporate mental health screening and identify strategies to provide culturally and linguistically concordant mental health services to engage Chinese Americans with T2D.
摘要：
背景：新的证据表明，2型糖尿病（T2D）患者比普通人群更容易出现心理健康问题；然而，关于患有T2D的华裔美国人的心理健康负担的数据非常缺乏。
目的：本研究的目的是探讨共病的心理健康状况，寻求健康的行为，T2D华裔美国人的心理服务利用情况。
方法：对纽约市74名患有T2D的华裔美国人进行了横断面电话调查。我们使用标准化问卷来评估心理健康状况，并收集有关寻求心理健康的行为和服务利用的数据。描述性统计用于数据分析。
结果：共有74名患有T2D的华裔美国人完成了调查。大多数参与者（平均年龄56岁，SD10岁）确定为女性（42/74，57%），出生在美国境外（73/74，99%），英语水平有限(71/74，96%)。尽管近一半的参与者（34/74，46％）报告至少有一种精神健康问题（压力升高，抑郁症状,和/或焦虑)，目前只有3%(2/74)使用精神卫生服务。不寻求护理的常见原因包括没有感知到的需要，缺乏有关说中文的供应商的信息，成本,和时间限制。提供者的文化和语言能力被列为与寻求精神保健相关的首要因素。
结论：患有T2D的华裔美国人经历相对较高的合并症心理健康问题，但服务利用率较低。临床医生可能会考虑以团队为基础的护理，以纳入心理健康筛查，并确定提供文化和语言上一致的心理健康服务的策略，以吸引华裔美国人患有T2D。
目的：本研究的目的是探讨共病的心理健康状况，寻求健康的行为，T2D华裔美国人的心理服务利用情况。
方法：对纽约市74名患有T2D的华裔美国人进行了横断面电话调查。我们使用标准化问卷来评估心理健康状况，并收集有关寻求心理健康的行为和服务利用的数据。描述性统计用于数据分析。
结果：共有74名患有T2D的华裔美国人完成了调查。大多数参与者（平均年龄56岁，SD10岁）确定为女性（42/74，57%），出生在美国境外（73/74，99%），英语水平有限(71/74，96%)。尽管近一半的参与者（34/74，46％）报告至少有一种精神健康问题（压力升高，抑郁症状,和/或焦虑)，目前只有3%(2/74)使用精神卫生服务。不寻求护理的常见原因包括没有感知到的需要，缺乏有关说中文的供应商的信息，成本,和时间限制。提供者的文化和语言能力被列为与寻求精神保健相关的首要因素。
结论：患有T2D的华裔美国人经历相对较高的合并症心理健康问题，但服务利用率较低。临床医生可能会考虑以团队为基础的护理，以纳入心理健康筛查，并确定提供文化和语言上一致的心理健康服务的策略，以吸引华裔美国人患有T2D。
