158252 Federal and community partnership to develop a culturally competent CVD prevention curriculum for Native Hawai'ian youths

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 3:15 PM

Violet Ryo-Hwa Woo, MS, MPH , Center for the Application of Research Discoveries, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NHI, Bethesda, MD
Matilde Alvarado, MS; RN , Division for the Application of Research Discoveries (DARD), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Bethesda, MD
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among Native Hawai'ians beginning at age 25. Native Hawai'ians make up approximately 19 percent of the total state population but their rate of CVD as the cause of death is 46 percent higher than that of the total state. The impact of CVD on the Native Hawai'ians demonstrates geographic and racial disparities that underscore the need for culturally tailored community interventions. To address prevention of CVD risk factors in the Native Hawai'ian community, NHLBI funded an innovative approach using an intergeneration strategy. Kupuna (elders) are respected sources of wisdom, tradition and family history. They teach Hawai'ian values at the elementary school level. Since there are limited programs that use early intervention via an intergenerational approach to work towards improving the youth's heart health, the NHLBI is developing promising practices to reach and engage Native Hawai'ian school-age children about prevention of CVD risk factors and promoting healthy behaviors.

Objectives: 1) Assess the impact of community involvement in the planning through evaluation stages and 2) evaluate the knowledge gained.

Methods: Collaborate with a community-based healthcare system to develop a draft curriculum in CD-ROM that is rich in Hawai'ian culture and language. A teacher's guideline will accompany the CD. The curriculum will be piloted with elementary students at a school that has Hawai'ian language immersion program.

Conclusion: This effort will enhance our knowledge of the impact of community partnerships and early intervention on heart health among Native Hawai'ian youths

Learning Objectives:
1) Identify strategies to engage the community in a community-based outreach project 2) Apply lessons learned about partnership building with Native Hawai’ian populations. 3) Overcome potential challenges encountered during the development, planning, pilot and implementation phases 4) Assess underlying opportunities that arise with continued communication with the community

Keywords: Hawaiian Natives, Community Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Advancing the Health of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders: An Under-recognized Community in the U.S
See more of: Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of APHA