Involving Communities in Multicultural Network: From Screening to Access to Cardiovascular Care

This community-based participatory research (CBPR) project aims to reduce disparities in access to health care among the uninsured African-American, Asian-American, and Latino communities in Montgomery County, Maryland. Through the participatory research process, the project seeks to garner suggestions on culturally-appropriate approaches to improve outreach and access to care specifically in the area of cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: We are conducting a delayed CBPR (intervention) control study design to measure the differences in access to care in three groups (African American, Asian American, and Latinos). Specifically, we first measure actual return for medical care following a screening session without carrying out any community outreach efforts; we will then implement the community participatory approach and then, a year later, we will again screen and monitor return for medical care to determine whether community-based efforts made a difference in attendance of follow-up appointments. Convenience samples of Latinos (n=116), Asian-Americans (n=57), and African-Americans (n=60) were recruited for cardiovascular risk screenings in their communities, we completed measurements of body mass index, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Project staff then scheduled follow-up appointments for at-risk patients at Montgomery County clinics for the uninsured and tracked patient attendance. Focus groups are being conducted in the various communities to assess and document major barriers to health care access and determine appropriate interventions as suggested by the participating communities. Ultimately, findings will be used to develop an innovative, community-based model for improving access to health care within an established multicultural system of care.