Community-based participatory research on diabetes among Chinese Americans: Convening a community research advisory committee

Background: Diabetes prevalence among Chinese Americans is 2.5 times higher than the general US population and 5 to 7 times higher than in native countries. To address this disparity locally, a multi-level team care diabetes intervention was implemented at Asian Health Services (AHS), a community health center in Oakland's Chinatown, that primarily serves low income, majority immigrant Asian Americans, many of whom have limited English proficiency. We developed the Chinese Community Research Advisory Committee (CCRAC) to advise on issues of cultural and linguistic competency in implementing the team-care approach to Chinese American diabetes patients and to solicit feedback on project instruments and protocols.

Methods: CCRAC members include Chinese diabetics, family members, and advocates and were recruited from AHS' Patient Leadership Councils and local community organizations. The CCRAC met every other month throughout the 2-year study period. Process evaluation surveys were completed semi-annually.

Results: The academic research and clinical teams gained insight about cultural preferences and incorporated changes into protocols and study instruments. Further, evaluations demonstrate that Chinese community members gained more knowledge of diabetes care, felt respected for their participation, and highly ranked their overall CCRAC experience. Discussion/Conclusions: Community advisory committee participation is essential to develop more culturally appropriate interventions for underserved populations.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: (1) understand the challenges and benefits of convening a community research advisory committee, and (2) understand the importance of advisory committees in implementing innovative approaches to culturally and linguistically appropriate care.