201787 Community-based approaches to reducing health disparities in Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino older adult communities

Monday, November 9, 2009

David Yim, MSW , Older Adults Program, Special Service for Groups, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Michelle Wong, MPH , Older Adults Program, Special Service for Groups, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Background: In response to the Healthy People 2010 Initiative, the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health 2010 Health Access for Pacific Asian Seniors (REACH 2010 HAPAS) Project was created to reduce health disparities in cardiovascular disease/CVD, type-2 diabetes and immunizable diseases amongst Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino older adults in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. REACH across the U.S. HAPAS builds on REACH 2010 HAPAS to promote community-level behavioral changes with culturally- and linguistically-appropriate approaches.

Objective: To discuss community-based strategies that reduce health disparities related to CVD, immunizable diseases, and type-2 diabetes in Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino communities.

Methods: A team of community-based organizations formed the HAPAS Collaborative to develop strategies to promote health in target communities. Using culturally and linguistically tailored materials, the collaborative provided health education seminars, conducted outreach, developed relationships with community leaders, and created a community-oriented health education curriculum on CVD, immunizable diseases, and type-2 diabetes.

Results: Temples, churches, community centers, and businesses in target communities partnered with the HAPAS Collaborative to implement activities that promote health and increase awareness of health disparities. Additionally, training materials on CVD, immunizable diseases, and type-2 diabetes were created in 6 languages including Cambodian, English, Laotian, Samoan, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

Discussion: Established groundwork will pave way for the implementation of Action Communities that provide sustainable vehicles to 1) maintain and expand knowledge of health disparities, 2) increase empowerment and self-advocacy skills, and 3) develop social networks and environments that promote health.

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe community-based strategies for implementing health behavioral change programs in Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino older adult communities in health priority areas of adult immunization, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases; 2) Identify future strategies and issues in building Action Communities to address health disparities in Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino older adult communities.

Keywords: Community Research, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: EDUCATION University of California, Los Angeles Candidate – Ph.D. in Social Welfare Anticipated grad date June 2012 Master of Social Welfare 2005 - 2007 University of California, Irvine 2001-2005 Bachelor of Arts, Sociology Bachelor of Arts, Public & Community Service RESEARCH Principal Investigator September 2008 - present Sponsoring Faculty Ann Marie Yamada, Ph.D., University of Southern California “Exploring Faith-Based Leaders’ Perceptions of Mental Illness among Vietnamese Americans” Literature review, data collection and analysis, compilation of publishable paper. Principal Investigator August 2008 – present Sponsoring Faculty Bridget Freisthler, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles “GIS Mapping and Resource Assessment for Cambodian American Community in Long Beach” Literature review, data collection and analysis, compilation of report. Research Assistant September 2006 – July 2008 PI Marjorie Kagawa-Singer, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles “Community Partnership for Tobacco Control in the API Communities” Reviewed literature and developed evaluation tools for the effectiveness of the Stages of Readiness Model, technical assistance, and social network analysis. Conducted telephone interviews, data analysis, compiled preliminary and final reports. Principal Investigator September 2004 - June 2005 Sponsoring Faculty Jeanett Castellanos, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) research funding for “The Effects of Ethnic Identity, Perceived Educational Barriers, University Fit, and Coping Strategies on the Psychological Well-Being of Vietnamese American Undergraduates” Conducted literature review, developed research questions and study design, collected data, performed statistical analysis, compiled final research thesis, submitted thesis and was approved by UCI Department of Social Science for honors. Independent Research September 2003 – June 2004 “Qualitative Research: Factors that Influence Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Behaviors among Vietnamese American Women” Conducted literature review, designed study, conducted qualitative data collection and analysis, interpreted results, completed manuscript. PRESENTATIONS Yamada, A-M. Lee, K.H, & Nguyen, H. (2009, June). “Collisions of culture and spirituality: Effective Collaboration with Asian American Faith Leaders.” Invited workshop Clergy Conference - Mental Health & Spirituality: The Journey to Wholeness. Los Angeles, CA. Yamada, A-M., Nguyen, H., & Dinh, T. (2009, March). “Deconstructing Views of Mental Illness among Vietnamese Faith-Based Leaders” Poster Presentation at the Asian American Psychological Association and the Division on Women 3rd Southern California Regional Conference. Long Beach, CA. Dinh, T., Yamada, A-M, Brekke, J., & Nguyen, H. (2009, January). “Sociocultural Influences on Employment Functioning Over Time: Clinical Implications for Sustaining Work Productivity.” Poster Presentation at Society of Social Work Research Conference. New Orleans, LA. Yim, D., Nguyen, H., & Moon, A. (2007, March). “Cardiovascular Disease Education and Outreach in Asian and Pacific Islander Older Adults Community.” Workshop at American Society on Aging – National Council on Aging. Chicago, IL. Nguyen, H. (2005, May). “The Effects of Perceived Educational Barriers, Cultural Fit, and Coping Strategies on the Psychological Well-Being of Vietnamese American Undergraduates.” Poster Presentation at University of California, Irvine Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, Irvine, CA.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

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