Description
- Abstract:
- Introduction Nail salon work represents one of the fastest-growing sectors of cosmetology in the United States, employing a workforce predominantly composed of immigrant Southeast Asian (SEA) women. Although the industry offers low barriers to entry and economic opportunity, it also presents considerable occupational health risks. Workers are frequently exposed to unregulated chemicals, inadequate protective equipment, and ergonomic strain, resulting in a range of adverse health outcomes. Given the central role of SEA women in this workforce, addressing these occupational hazards is essential to advancing worker protection and equity. Objective The primary objective of this study was to explore the facilitators and barriers to healthcare-seeking behavior among SEA nail salon workers in the Providence metropolitan area. Methods This qualitative study was guided by the socio-ecological framework. Participants were recruited from SEA-owned nail salons across the Providence metropolitan area to participate in individual interviews. Interviews were conducted in the participants’ preferred language, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify prominent themes across levels of influence. Results Individual interviews with five participants revealed themes across all levels of the socio-ecological model. At the individual level, participants described self-treatment practices and a low perception of short-term health risks. The interpersonal level highlighted support from coworkers and positive employer responses. At the organizational level, participants reported limited job benefits, inadequate training, and inconsistent use of personal protective equipment. The community level emphasized language barriers and the use of community-based resources, while at the policy level, participants pointed to the lack of protections and benefits for nail salon workers. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study of Southeast Asian nail salon workers in the Providence metropolitan area. The findings highlight key barriers and facilitators that shape healthcare-seeking behaviors in this population, including perceived health risks, limited job benefits, and language barriers. These insights can guide future advocacy and intervention efforts to support nail salon workers, such as integrating improved occupational health education into nail technician training programs and expanding access to community-based resources to bridge the gap in health access.
- Notes:
- Scholarly concentration: Non-Scholarly Concentrator
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Citation
Vu, Brian BA, and Palma, Melissa MD, MPH,
"Barriers and Facilitators to Healthcare-Seeking Behavior in Nail Salon Workers Across the Providence Metropolitan Area"
(2025).
Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://doi.org/10.26300/h0b8-0565
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Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium
The Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium is an annual event at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University that provides Year II medical students a venue to present their summer research in a poster format. Participation in the Symposium …...