Investigating immigrants’ health beliefs, healthcare needs, and service use in the Nordic region

Conducted as part of my doctoral research at Åbo Akademi University

As a Doctoral Researcher at Åbo Akademi University, I investigate immigrants’ health beliefs, healthcare needs, and the use of healthcare services across Finland, Sweden, and Norway. This research is part of my PhD study and is funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Karl-Erik Henriksson Foundation, and Åbo Akademis Jubileumsfond. The project aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for healthcare providers, policymakers, and research institutions working with minority populations in the Nordic region.

Specifically, I contribute to:

• Developing a theoretical framework based on an adapted Health Belief Model and Information-Seeking Behaviour to understand the healthcare behaviours and challenges faced by immigrants.
• Conducting a mixed-method study, utilising semi-structured interviews and structured surveys to explore health information needs and barriers to healthcare access.
• Comparing immigrant experiences across three Nordic countries to identify systemic disparities and propose targeted interventions for improving health communication and service delivery.

I design and implement quantitative and qualitative data collection strategies, ensuring methodological rigour in cross-country comparative research. Additionally, I analyse survey and interview data using advanced statistical and qualitative techniques to uncover patterns in health-seeking behaviour.

Findings from this research have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Library & Information Science Research (Jufo 3) and Informaatiotutkimus (Jufo 1), contributing to academic discussions on immigrant health, cultural adaptation, and information-seeking behaviour. My work supports policymakers and healthcare organisations in developing inclusive, data-driven healthcare strategies for diverse immigrant populations in the Nordic region.