A culturally and linguistically tailored Community-Engaged Dementia Education Program (CEDEP) for the Houston Vietnamese American community.

Data from the Vietnamese Aging and Care Survey (VACS) showed the high prevalence of disability, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment in older Vietnamese immigrants and refugees. We proposed a Community-Engaged Dementia Education Program to examine the Houston Vietnamese American community's literacy on dementia and develop a one-pager educational material. This is a cross-sectional, qualitative study (interviews and focus groups) using the Cultural Exchange Model as a conceptual framework. We interviewed fourteen Vietnamese key informants and assessed the community's knowledge of dementia based on Edwards' 9-stage Community Readiness Model. The community's low literacy on dementia (Stages 2-3: Denial/resistance to vague awareness) was revealed. Approaches to introducing dementia conversations to the community and what to include in the one-pager were discussed. Based on the key informants' insight, we developed a dementia one-pager tailored to the community by using lay language with a representative image of the target population, indicating warning signs of dementia, and encouraging them to see their doctors for cognitive check-ups. The plan for the next steps includes utilizing the local ethnic media, collaborating with the existing pillars of the Cultural Exchange model, leveraging the university students' learning opportunities, and disseminating the culturally and linguistically tailored one-pager.

Social Determinants of Health, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Individuals of Vietnamese Origin.

In 2022, the Vietnamese population in the United States (US) comprises 2.2 million individuals, and Vietnam ranks as the sixth most frequent country of origin among immigrants in the US. The American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health have called for research to define the burden of cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular disease, and their determinants across Asian American subgroups, including Vietnamese Americans. Despite these calls, Vietnamese Americans remain remarkably overlooked in cardiovascular research in the US. Studies in Vietnam, small cross-sectional surveys in the US, and research using US mortality data point to a high prevalence of hypertension and tobacco use among men and a high incidence of gestational diabetes among women. Moreover, Vietnamese Americans have one of the highest rates of cerebrovascular mortality in the country. Adverse social determinants of health-including frequent language barriers, limited health literacy, and low average income-have been suggested as important factors that contribute to cardiovascular risk in this group. In this narrative review, we summarize the existing knowledge in this space, highlight the distinct characteristics of cardiac risk in both Vietnamese and Vietnamese American individuals, discuss upstream determinants, and identify key knowledge gaps. We then outline several proposed interventions and emphasize the need for further studies in this underrepresented population. Our aim is to increase awareness of the significant burden of risk factors and cardiovascular disease shouldered by this large-but thus far overlooked-population in the US, boost research in this space, and help inform tailored, effective preventive interventions.

Engaging the Asian American Community to Address Cancer Burden: Experiences and Lessons Learned.

BACKGROUND: Reducing cancer health disparities in Asian Americans requires orchestrated efforts and partnerships. OBJECTIVES: To describe the approach used by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, HOPE Clinic, and Asian American organizations to understand and engage Houston's Asian American communities in cancer research, as well as to share lessons learned. METHODS: The community-academic-medical partnership used community-based research principles to build the partnership, form the community advisory board, conduct a community needs assessment, and offer cancer prevention engagement and education. RESULTS: Some lessons learned included balancing language needs with limited resources, incorporating more time and resources to conduct health research in an ethnically diverse community, and promoting awareness of research and its role in cancer prevention in Asian American communities. CONCLUSIONS: Community-academic-medical partnerships are promising ways to engage the community, draw on combined expertise, and create research and programs that are scientifically strong and meaningful to the community.

Using the Stage-Based Approaches to Predict Breast Self-Examination Among Rural Vietnamese Women.

A stages-of-change approach would be helpful to understand cancer screening behaviors. This study aimed to identify the compliance and determinants of breast self-examination (BSE) based on transtheoretical model (TTM) and health belief model (HBM). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 296 rural Vietnamese women using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of Champion's HBM scales, breast cancer knowledge (BCK), integrated connection to neighborhood storytelling networks (ICSN), and TTM stages of BSE. A generalized ordered logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with TTM stages of BSE. About 61% of women did not currently perform BSE. Perceived benefit was significant in all stages changes. When changing to the action stage, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and BCK were significant. When changing to the maintenance stage, perceived susceptibility, benefits, self-efficacy, and ICSN were significant. Determinants influencing BSE behavior were different in each TTM stage, indicating that educational programs should be introduced with stage-matched strategies to increase BSE.

Treatment of aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient: a multidisciplinary approach.

CASE STUDY: P.J. was a 69-year-old woman who was referred to a large cancer center for an evaluation of brain and lung masses presumed to be cancerous lesions. During the three months before the referral, P.J. had experienced a gradual 40 lb weight loss, shortness of breath with exertion, chest pain, lip tremor, edema and progressive weakening of lower extremities, overall fatigue, and increasing balance and gait disturbances. Her diagnostic workup revealed aspergillosis in her lungs and brain. This case study reports the process of differentiating between cancer and fungal disease, antifungal treatment modalities used, and the multidisciplinary management approach used in the care of P.J.