Use photovoice to compliment focus groups to promote understanding of cardiovascular disease prevention in Chinese Americans

Purpose: To explore the use of photovoice in conjunction with focus groups to understand Chinese Americans' experience of the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. Method: Forty-two Chinese Americans, aged 36-84 years, were recruited through a non-profit community agency by convenience sampling to participate in 4 focus groups. Upon completion of the focus groups, we recruited 7 additional participants and provided them with cameras to photograph how they perceive, manage, and prevent cardiovascular disease. Recruitment methods for the 2 groups were similar. All focus group discussions and photovoice sessions were audiotaped, analyzed, and compared. Results: Major themes that emerged from the photovoice sessions validated those identified in the focus groups. In addition, photovoice sessions complemented focus group data by providing contextual information that documented ways in which participants promoted healthy behaviors. Older Chinese Americans were actively taking measures to prevent cardiovascular disease. However, these measures were often rooted in traditional cultural beliefs related to diet, regular exercise, and elimination of stress. This population lacked Western concepts of prevention, such as CVD screening and knowledge of normal blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and risk factors. Despite participants' interest in cardiovascular health, a paucity of language- and culturally-appropriate cardiovascular health information is available in the community. Conclusion: Photovoice complements focus group discussions, particularly among older participants, to document specific contextual factors pertaining to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The combination of methodologies helps researchers to understand specific environmental, social, and cultural factors affecting the health behaviors of this population.