Introduction: In Hong Kong, migrants arriving from Mainland China often have multiple roles and responsibilities while adapting to new lives in their host destination. This paper explored the factors that contribute to the inequity in health services utilisation experienced by these migrants; and, identified the elements that could constitute an effective health delivery model to address the service gap. Methods: Site visits and a focus group discussion (n = 13) were held with both public and private health providers before a number of innovative health delivery models were formulated. They were then circulated among the panel in two further rounds of Delphi survey (n = 11) from March-April 2012 to systematically collect opinions and select the most endorsed health service models to serve this target population. Results: Focus group members perceived that most migrants were unaware of, or even ignored, their own physical and mental health needs, and had low utilisation of healthcare services, because of their pre-occupation with daily chores and hardship as well as differing health values, practices and expectations. They further identified that the structural issues such as the healthcare setting or the operation of current service provisions had failed to meet migrants health needs. Consequently, four new service models that incorporated professional advice and empowerment, which were identified as the two most important elements, were put forward. Thus, the model of having a nurse with social work training, supported by volunteer groups, was selected as the best option to familiarise and empower patients within the labyrinth of local healthcare services. Conclusion: Implementation of a social empowerment model by way of targeted support and specific health information is recommended. Further evaluation of this model is needed to understand its effectiveness for improving health literacy and health status in this disadvantaged group in the long term. © 2014 Wong et al.

Delphi technique access to health care Migrants Healthcare delivery health policy

information processing physical parameters health care management China training questionnaire survey education program nurse public health service Models, Organizational nonbiological model Delphi study mental health human Health Behavior community integration daily life activity Delphi Technique priority journal ethnology Social Work migrant worker Humans migrant Emigrants and Immigrants female service quality spatiotemporal analysis Behavior population research health services Article literacy organization and management health care utilization health care quality health care need Hong Kong Health Services Accessibility expectation Health Policy statistical model Delivery of Health Care empowerment Healthcare Disparities Power (Psychology) health care disparity health practitioner Focus Groups health care delivery Delphi analysis