From: Health care experiences of U.S. Retirees living in Mexico and Panama: a qualitative study
Demographic characteristics | Mexico (n = 23) | Panama (n = 23) | P-value for difference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean (SD) | Range | Mean (SD) | Range | ||
Age | 69.9 (6.8) | 59.0 – 87.4 | 68.1 (4.5) | 60.8 – 80.6 | 0.40 |
Years living in Mexico or Panama | 7.2 (5.6) | 1.0 – 20.0 | 6.4 (12.2) | 0.6 – 60.6 | 0.78 |
Spanish proficiency (0 = none to 10 = native) | 4.7 (2.3) | 0.0 – 9.0 | 4.2 (2.4) | 0.5 – 8.0 | 0.51 |
N | % | N | % | ||
Gender (female) | 15 | 65.2 | 8 | 34.8 | 0.08 |
Race (White/Caucasian) | 23 | 100 | 18 | 78.3 | 0.05 |
Marital status | 0.29 | ||||
Married | 14 | 60.9 | 17 | 73.9 | |
Widowed | |||||
Separated/divorced | 6 | 26.1 | 5 | 21.7 | |
Never married | 3 | 13.0 | 1 | 4.4 | |
Education | 0.13 | ||||
High school or less | 3 | 13.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Some college | 2 | 8.7 | 8 | 34.8 | |
College degree | 4 | 17.4 | 4 | 17.4 | |
Post-graduate degree | 14 | 60.9 | 11 | 47.8 | |
Income (monthly) | 0.04 | ||||
$1,000-$1,999 | 6 | 26.1 | 2 | 8.7 | |
$2,000-$2,999 | 8 | 34.8 | 8 | 34.8 | |
≥ $3,000 | 9 | 39.1 | 13 | 56.5 | |
Medical and functional characteristics | N | % | N | % | |
Hospitalized in Mexico or Panama during prior 2 years | 11 | 55.0 | 17 | 73.9 | 0.22 |
Days hospitalized among participants hospitalized [Mean (SD), Range]* | 4.9 (4.8) | 1 – 17 | 3.3 (1.6) | 1 – 6 | 0.36 |
Had a chronic illness requiring ongoing care | 17 | 77.3 | 19 | 82.6 | 0.72 |
Requires supervision or assistance with: | |||||
Feeding self | 1 | 4.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.48 |
Walking a block | 2 | 8.7 | 3 | 13.0 | 0.67 |
Dressing self | 2 | 8.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.09 |
Bathing self | 2 | 8.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.09 |
Using telephone | 1 | 4.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.22 |
Shopping for groceries | 2 | 8.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.14 |
Reliably taking medications | 1 | 4.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.19 |
Handling finances | 1 | 4.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.43 |
Depression | 3 | 13.0 | 2 | 8.7 | 0.61 |
Incontinence | 3 | 13.0 | 2 | 8.7 | 0.61 |
Number of medications [Mean (SD), Range] | 4.9 (2.8) | 2 – 12 | 4 (3.3) | 0 – 10 | 0.39 |