New publication explores the health behaviours and healthcare experiences of Thai immigrants
New publication explores the impact of migration from Thailand
We are delighted to celebrate a new publication from Sutthinan Codrington, a second-year doctoral candidate in Te Kura Tāpuhi/School of Nursing at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, and a member of the Te Ārai Palliative Care and End of Life Research Group. His paper, Health Behaviours and Experiences With Health Care Systems Among Thai Immigrants: A Scoping Review, has recently been published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health.
For Sutthinan, this research is both academically and personally meaningful. Originally from Thailand, he joined Te Ārai after moving to Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue doctoral study. Prior to this, he worked as a nursing instructor in the Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, one of Thailand's leading universities. His PhD focuses on understanding the health status, health behaviours, and healthcare experiences of older Thai immigrants, helping to address a significant gap in the evidence base both internationally and in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Understanding the experiences of Thai immigrants
The newly published review sought to bring together what is currently known about the health behaviours and healthcare experiences of Thai immigrants living outside Thailand. While a growing body of research exists, the evidence has been scattered across different countries, study designs, and population groups. To address this, Sutthinan and colleagues systematically reviewed the academic and grey literature, identifying and synthesising findings from 54 studies.
The review identified five key themes:
Preventive health behaviours
Health-risk behaviours
Health-seeking behaviours
Cultural and emotional responses to illness and healthcare
Navigating healthcare systems
Across these themes, Thai immigrants experienced a range of interconnected challenges. Language barriers, cultural expectations, socioeconomic constraints, and the psychosocial impacts of migration all influenced how people accessed services, responded to illness, and engaged with healthcare professionals. Difficulties navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems and finding culturally appropriate support were also common.
Why does this matter?
Migration is a growing global phenomenon, and health systems are increasingly serving culturally diverse populations. Yet healthcare services are often designed around the needs and expectations of majority populations. Migrants may bring different understandings of health, illness, family caregiving, and healthcare access, shaped by their previous experiences and cultural contexts.
Understanding these experiences is essential if healthcare services are to be equitable, accessible, and responsive to the needs of diverse communities. The review highlights the importance of culturally appropriate support and improved understanding of how migrants navigate healthcare systems.
Looking ahead
Importantly, the review identified significant gaps in the evidence. Despite increasing research on Thai immigrant health, relatively little attention has been paid to older adults. In addition, no research has examined the experiences of Thai immigrants living in Aotearoa New Zealand, despite this being a growing population.
These gaps provide the foundation for Sutthinan's doctoral research, which is using a mixed-methods approach to explore the health status, health behaviours, and healthcare experiences of older Thai immigrants living in Aotearoa.
This publication represents an important milestone in Sutthinan's PhD journey and reflects his commitment to improving understanding of the health needs of Thai migrant communities. By bringing together evidence from around the world, the review provides a valuable platform for future research, policy development, and healthcare practice.
At Te Ārai, we are proud to support emerging researchers whose work advances health equity and amplifies the experiences of communities that are often overlooked in health research. Congratulations to Sutthinan on this significant achievement.