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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jane M. Brotanek, MD, MPH¹, Kristen Grimes², and Glenn Flores, MD¹. (1) Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, (414) 456-5778, jbrotane@mcw.edu, (2) Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin, 1533 N. RiverCenter Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Background: Minority children are at high risk for asthma and its associated morbidity and hospitalizations. Cultural competence leads to higher quality care for asthmatic children, yet it is not known whether asthma educational materials targeting minority children are culturally competent.

Objective: To develop and use a tool to evaluate the cultural competency of asthma educational materials.

Methods: The Wisconsin Asthma Coalition Disparities Workgroup, a diverse group of representatives from non-profit organizations, hospitals/clinics, and local/state government, held a series of meetings to develop, test, and apply a tool for evaluating the cultural competency of all asthma educational materials in the state of Wisconsin targeting minorities. The tool, based on the Flores model of cultural competency, consists of 7 domains: language, normative cultural values, folk illnesses, parent/patient beliefs, provider practices, illustrations, and an overall assessment. Asthma educational materials were obtained via multiple letters, emails, and phone calls to healthcare organizations, agencies, and clinics. Three reviewers from the appropriate cultural group independently evaluated each material using the tool created by the workgroup. All 7 domains were scored using a 5-point Likert scale (1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent), and consensus was reached for each score.

Results: Only 17 asthma educational materials targeting minorities exist in the state: 16 for Latinos, 1 for Native Americans, 0 for African Americans, and 0 for Asians/Pacific Islanders. Total scores for each material ranged from 1-3, with a mean + SD=2.3 +0.5. The highest mean domain scores were for language (3.5 +1.1) and illustrations (3.5 +1.2); the lowest score was for folk illnesses (1.1 +0.2), with significant weaknesses identified for normative cultural values (2.6 +0.7); parent/patient beliefs (1.8 +0.7); and provider practices (1.9 +0.6).

Conclusions: Few asthma educational materials targeting minorities exist in the state, and those available are not culturally competent. Most materials targeted Latinos; only 1 targeted Native Americans, and none targeted African-Americans or Asians/Pacific Islanders. More culturally competent asthma educational materials for minorities are needed.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the five components of the Flores model of cultural competency.
• Evaluate the cultural competency of asthma educational materials using a tool based on the Flores model of cultural competency.

Keywords: Asthma, Cultural Competency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No