Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Assess the Asthma Needs of Vietnamese American Children

What Is the Purpose of This Study?

• • To assess the perceived burden of asthma in Vietnamese American children and related health needs of those with asthma

• • To assess the health beliefs and practices of the Vietnamese American community regarding childhood asthma

• • To assess the Vietnamese American community’s willingness to participate in further research about childhood asthma

• • To learn and develop culturally acceptable methods that will facilitate further research, outreach, and intervention that are specific to the Vietnamese American community

• • To establish and build relationships among stakeholders who will be affected by this study

What Is the Problem?

• • Little has been studied about the true prevalence and burden of pediatric asthma in the Vietnamese American community, as well as parental health behaviors pertaining to their children’s asthma

• • Despite the fact that prior studies have shown that Vietnamese children may have significantly higher rates of both undiagnosed asthma and diagnosed asthma compared to their counterparts, families seem to underutilize Western healthcare for unclear reasons.

• • Prior studies have suggested that parental traditional beliefs affect their management of their children’s asthma.

What Are the Findings?

• • The members of the Vietnamese American community and the healthcare professionals and school administrators who work with the Vietnamese American community describe asthma as a significant problem for Vietnamese American children.

• • Academic achievement is a priority for Vietnamese parents.

• • Barriers to healthcare assess for Vietnamese American children with asthma include language and limited access to specialty asthma care.

• • Healthcare professionals believe parental traditional health beliefs and practices contribute to non-adherence to Western therapies; however, Vietnamese American parents report that although they may use traditional therapies, they actually prefer Western therapies to treat their children’s asthma.

• • Vietnamese American parents prefer educational materials be in Vietnamese and report that the best way to communicate with their community is via Vietnamese television or radio.

• • The Vietnamese American community welcomes further research and interventions regarding childhood asthma in their community.

Who Should Care Most?

• • Members of the healthcare field who provide care for Vietnamese American children

• • Community-based organizations

• • Schools administrators

• • Health care policymakers

• • Parents of children with asthma

Recommendations for Action

• • Recommendation #1: Provide more funding and support for studies about the prevalence, morbidity, mortality and traditional health beliefs and practices related to childhood asthma in the Vietnamese American community.

• • Recommendation #2: Consider involving schools and associating academic achievement with positive health outcomes when providing health outreach, education, or interventions for Vietnamese American children.

• • Recommendation #3: Consider using Vietnamese television and/or Vietnamese radio when promoting health outreach, education or interventions for Vietnamese Americans.

• • Recommendation #4: Consider using a mobile asthma care clinic at school sites with providers who speak Vietnamese to provide specialized asthma care for Vietnamese American children.