Efforts to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) among Southeast Asian communities are critical due to the high smoking prevalence among these populations. Assessing the impacts of such efforts, however, is challenged by cultural, linguistic, and historical factors that defy the use of evaluation instruments and strategies more generally applied to mainstream communities. This report reviews the nature of the cultural-historical challenges faced in assessing an ETS prevention project targeting 575 Hmong, Lao, and Cambodian families in Fresno, California, and presents the results of the project’s evaluation. Recognizing the unique characteristics of the targeted populations, a graphics-based pre-/post-intervention survey was developed accounting for the limited literacy and pictograph-fluency of sampled families. Response options took the form of culturally-relevant graphics and symbols, rather than relying solely on Likert-style or other text-based forms. Surveys were administered by linguistically-appropriate interviewers prior to educational interventions and three months after. Three-fourths of respondents had never received ETS-related information. Following the educational interventions, knowledge that ETS is harmful to children rose by 30%. Nearly 90% of respondents indicated they felt they could now take steps to eliminate family members’ ETS exposure in their households. Over 80% of post-intervention respondents indicated they were taking some measures to reduce exposure in their homes/vehicles, a 30% increase over pre-intervention figures. Finally, a dramatic decline was observed in the percent of smokers reporting they smoke in their vehicles with others present. The evaluation instrument, lessons learned along the way, and detailed results are presented and discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the cultural / historical challenges associated with evaluating the impacts of a tobacco prevention project among Southeast Asian (Hmong, Lao, Cambodian) communities in California. 2. Create graphics-based evaluation instruments that incorporate response options comprised of culturally-relevant pictographs and symbols for limited English speaking, multicultural communities. 3. Discuss the prevailing knowledge levels about, and behavioral practices regarding, environmental tobacco smoke among recent immigrant communities in California from Southeast Asia.
Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Special Needs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: California Health Collaborative
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.