Yan Zhang, MS¹, Hongyun Fu², and Stacey B. Plichta, ScD². (1) Urban Health Services, College of Health Science, Old Dominion University, 3565 Norland Court, Norfolk, VA 23513, 757-233-9973, yxzhang@odu.edu, (2) College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, 203 Spong Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529

Background: Health fairs have been used with minority populations to successfully screen for health conditions and provide health information. However, few have been conducted with ethnic Chinese who live outside major Chinese-American population centers. This study presents the findings of a health fair held for Chinese-Americans in the Hampton-Roads area of Virginia.

Methods: At the fair, participants received screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and dental disease, and health information on preventing chronic diseases and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices in Chinese and English. Overall 123 attended. All 61 adults were invited to participate in a self-administered survey, 38 Chinese-Americans and 15 other Americans completed the survey. Of the 38 Chinese-Americans with mean age of 47.6, 60% are female, 89% married, and 58% speak Chinese only at home.

Findings: Most of Chinese-American eat high-fiber food (82%) and do not smoke (94%). 34% exercise more than 3 times/week. They rate themselves in good or excellent physical (79%) and mental health (95%). Few (5%) have been told having chronic health conditions and some (16%) having high cholesterol. They visit Western Medicine doctor more often than Chinese Medicine doctor. The main barriers to healthcare are language, cost, and long time of waiting. The screening results showed that around 50% of participants have elevated cholesterol level.

Lessons Learned: The Chinese-Americans have good health behaviors but the major challenge is maintaining it. Health professionals need to acknowledge that Chinese patients are likely to use Chinese medicines.

Learning Objectives:

• > To describe the general health status and health related behaviors of Chinese-American population.
• > To identify the priority of health related needs of Chinese-American sub-population.

Keywords: Asian Americans, Minority Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.