Strategies to reach and implement the vision of health equity (STRIVE) project: Adapting and culturally tailoring evidence-based strategies for Asian americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander communities

Background: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) suffer from low physical activity and poor nutritional practices compared to other groups. Population-based evidence-based (EB) strategies targeting changes at policy, environmental, and systems (PSE) level have a positive impact on chronic disease risk factors in the overall population. Without tailoring, such EB approaches may not be meaningful or relevant for underserved AANHPIs. Moreover, there is a lack of information on process or framework to guide culturally tailoring EB strategies.

Objectives: The goal of Strategies To Reach and Implement the Vision of Health Equity (STRIVE) Project is to reduce AANHPI health disparities. STRIVE will work with 15 local AANHPI community-based organizations (CBOs) across the U.S. to implement EB strategies tailored to address the cultural, linguistic and unique contextual factors of AANHPI communities. For example, adapting EB workplace initiatives for the small business workplaces where many AANHPIs work, such as restaurants and nail salons.

Methods: A review of extant literature and STRIVE project related documents including progress reports, meeting minutes, group discussions and key informant interviews was conducted to identify themes and processes used to tailor EB strategies across the 15 sites.

Results: We will present an overview of protocols used and identify overarching themes to culturally tailor and make EB strategies locally relevant to respective AANHPI communities.

Conclusions: EB strategies to improve PSE outcomes are critical to mitigate AANHPI health disparities. To achieve high level, replicable impact, systematic protocols to culturally and linguistically tailor EB strategies for AANHPI communities are needed.