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Mobilizing healthcare resources through social capital: The case of ethnic minority cancer patients in Hong Kong
Author(s)
Date Issued
2023
Citation
The 24th Annual Conference of the Hong Kong Sociological Association, 2023.
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Social researchers have long been suggesting that social capital could generate positive
effects for cancer patients on their health and well-being, and to give a better idea on how to cope with
cancer and their post-treatment recovery. Using Woolcock’s (1998) framework of social capital – ‘social
bonds’ (i.e. the connections within a community as defined by ethnical or religious identity), ‘social
links’ (i.e. engagement with institutions, agencies and services) and ‘social bridges’ (i.e. social
connections with those of other social groups) as the conceptual framework, this presentation aims to
discuss how members of the ethnic minorities cope with fear and anxiety, health illiteracy, language
barriers, the exhaustive medical treatment as well as the lack of materialistic resources in their cancer
coping process.
Drawing on in-depth interviews with twenty-eight non-Chinese cancer patients and survivors between
April and September 2022, this presentation explains that social bonds among patients were
predominately emerged through social media and digital device such as Facebook and WhatsApp
groups. In terms of social links, although only very few ethnic minority cancer patients managed to get
in touch with local NGOs, they could still receive further healthcare support from grassroot ones. As
to social bridges, leaders of grassroot NGOs bridge different professions and sectors of the society and
pool in the resources for their members. To conclude, this presentation suggests that the competence of
utilizing healthcare resources is determined by the types of social capital that ethnic minorities cancer
patients and their community leaders possess.
Availability at HKSYU Library
