Strategies to effectively disseminate culturally-tailored health interventions

A community-academic partnership sought to identify strategies to effectively and efficiently disseminate two culturally-tailored interventions, a weight loss program and a diabetes education program, for Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Filipinos. Data was collected through key informant interviews and a focus group. Seven key informant interviews were conducted with leaders of Native Hawaiian communities and Native Hawaiian serving agencies. One focus group was held with past participants of a weight loss intervention program.  The findings showed that key informants identified education, improved health of participants and empowering community leaders as program benefits. Time constraints, reaching those most in need, commitment and financial pressures were some of the barriers to program implementation in their communities.  The following challenges to sustaining these programs were: access for participants, flexibility of the program to meet the diverse needs of their community, available space to hold classes, sustaining momentum of participants, and financial cost. The focus group described the key benefits (sharing and support) and barriers (economic and time constraints) affecting their participation in the program.  They gave suggestions on how to improve the program and suggested innovative ways to recruit future participants. The findings informed the development of survey tools to assess the readiness of agencies to adopt either intervention.  The community partners plan to use this information to mentor the agencies as they implement either of these interventions.