Using community based participatory research (CBPR) techniques for the promotion of AAPI tobacco control

The State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (STEPP) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment funded the Asian Pacific Development Center (APDC) and OMNI Institute to conduct community assessments and engage Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) stakeholders in tobacco control activities. STEPP recently continued funding of these partners to expand and culminate this work in an AAPI-specific tobacco control strategic plan. Some unique aspects of this project include the community-based participatory research strategies that have been developed and refined, as well as the number of different AAPI ethnic groups (13) that have been engaged in this process. First, this presentation will describe the CBPR strategies that have been developed and employed as a part of this project, including the development and role of the AAPI Tobacco Control Advisory Board, the employment of “peer-to-peer researchers” to conduct community assessment activities in partnership with OMNI, and the co-development of a community-based strategic planning process. Second, the presentation will describe some of the complementary, formative evaluation activities that have been implemented to strengthen communication and perspective sharing between Asian Pacific Development Center, community stakeholders and OMNI. Third, the presenter will highlight the unique insights into AAPI tobacco control needs that have been obtained through this project and that APDC and OMNI attribute to the CBPR strategies. Finally, the presentation will conclude by discussing some of the challenges and new health promotion opportunities that CBPR strategies have presented from the perspective of the community-based organization (APDC), community stakeholders and researchers (OMNI).