142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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303397
Innovative Sampling Methods to Generate Representative Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Health Data

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Arnab Mukherjea, DrPH, MPH , Health Sciences Program, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA
Background/Significance:  Due to small population sizes, generating representative samples of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) subgroups are a persistent challenge in health research.  Traditional sampling methods are problematic, due to low response rates, respondent burden, and numerous sources of bias.  Inadequate community representation may contribute to an idealized, yet inaccurate, health profile of AANHPI subgroups.

Objective/Purpose:  This study assessed the feasibility of an alternative approach for population-level surveillance in a large yet understudied Asian subgroup (South Asians).  Time-location sampling depends on enumeration and weighting of venues where the priority population congregates, generated by qualitative inquiry.  Selected units, and potential respondents with each unit, were randomly sampled. 

Methods:  Qualitative methods were utilized to generate a sampling frame of venues where South Asians congregate, along with specific days/times where high volumes of community members were present.  Using randomization methods, a pre-specified number of time-location sampling units were selected within a 30 day period.  Within each unit, individuals were systematically sampled and invited to complete a tobacco use survey.  Consenting participants were able to complete a paper survey or provide responses via electronic tablet, and provided a $5.00 incentive upon completion.

Results:  Findings indicated time-location sampling generated high response rates among South Asians for tobacco surveillance (90+%).  Community-based outreach was paramount in ensuring research was able to be conducted at randomly-selected venues without interference.  Success was dependent on a relatively large and diverse data collection team, to allow concordance with potential respondents.  U.S.-born South Asians preferred electronic surveys while immigrants tended to request paper surveys. 

Discussion/Conclusion:  This feasibility test provides proof-of-principle that time-location sampling can be utilized in large Asian American subgroup to collect health behavior data.  Analyses are being conducted to determine if this probabilistic sampling method generates representative population-level data and is comparably feasible among other racial/ethnic minorities.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe time-location sampling as a probablistic sampling method among small and understudied racial/ethnic minority communities Identify the key steps to optimize generation of a representative sample Distinguish contextual considerations in maximizing respondent participation among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations

Keyword(s): Surveillance, Asian and Pacific Islanders

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator on this state-funded project and have been examining health behavior among South Asians and other Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups for the past five years.
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.