Background and aim: There are a significant number of Turkish speaking immigrants living in London. Their special health issues including women's health, mental health, and alcohol and smoking habits has been assessed. The aim of this study was to explore the ongoing challenges in access to health care services and its impact on Quality of Life of immigrants.Material and methods: This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted between March and August 2010 with Turkish immigrants (n = 416) living in London. Of these, 308 (74%) were Turkish and 108 (26%) were Turkish Cypriots. All healthy or unhealthy adults of 17-65 years of age were enrolled. A structured questionnaire with 44 items in five subcategories and 26-items WHOQOL BREF were used.Results: Mean duration of stay for Turkish Cypriots (26.9 ± 13.9 years) was significantly longer than Turkish immigrants (13.3 ± 7.5) (p < 0.001). Turkish immigrants (n = 108, 36.5%) need interpretation more often when using health services than Turkish Cypriots (n = 16, 15%) (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses suggested significant effects of older age, non-homeownership, low socioeconomic class, poor access to health services, being ill, poor community integration and being obese on physical well-being and also significant effects of low income and poor community integration on perceived overall Quality of Life (WHOQOL) of the participants.Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate how the health and well-being of members of the Turkish speaking community living in London are affected by social aspects of their lives. Providing culturally competent care and interpretation services and advocacy may improve the accessibility of the health care. © 2012 Topal et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Health services Accessibility Quality of life Well-being Turkish immigrants

urban population immigrant household controlled clinical trial psychological aspect alcohol consumption clinical trial exercise population based case control study London human wellbeing risk assessment middle aged sex difference statistics health service Turkey (republic) comparative study randomized controlled trial obesity Aged controlled study Logistic Models Health Surveys length of stay Patient Advocacy Great Britain ethnology chronic disease Cross-Sectional Studies quality of life income Young Adult Humans social status cross-sectional study Cross-Cultural Comparison Adolescent chi square distribution male smoking Chi-Square Distribution female Emigrants and Immigrants Socioeconomic Factors Multivariate Analysis socioeconomics questionnaire cultural factor Article integration health care utilization Questionnaires employment status adult migration major clinical study age health care quality Sex Factors Age Factors Turkey health care access disability United Kingdom statistical model body mass senescence structured questionnaire Health Services Accessibility health care delivery health survey