Designing a CHW Diabetes Prevention Program for the South Asian and Korean Communities of New York City

Background: The NYU Prevention Research Center (PRC) aims to build community capacity and leadership for health promotion and disease prevention using community-based participatory research (CBPR) and community-health worker (CHW) model approaches. The PRC's core research project will develop, implement, and test a CHW program for diabetes prevention among the South Asian and Korean communities of NYC.

Objective: To use the PRECEDE-PROCEED model to guide the program's planning.

Methods: A needs assessment was conducted to define the health problems of these communities. Interviewer-administered surveys were completed by 401 South Asians and 100 Koreans.

Results: South Asian and Korean respondents reported cardiovascular disease is one of their top health concerns.

South Asians who have lived in the U.S. greater than 10 years are significantly more likely to have been screened for diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension and to have been told that they have diabetes and high cholesterol than those who have lived in the U.S. 10 years or less.

Koreans who have lived in the U.S. greater than 10 years are significantly more likely to have been screened for cholesterol than those who have lived in the U.S. 10 years or less. About 22% of Korean respondents are uninsured, and 30% report poor/fair health. Discussion: Individuals who have lived in the U.S. over ten years are more likely to have received screenings, but also more likely to experience chronic diseases compared to recent immigrants. Results demonstrate the need for interventions to address disease prevention and health care access in immigrant communities.