Promoting Physical Activity Among Immigrant Asian Americans: Results from Four Community Health Worker Studies

• Published in: Journal of immigrant and minority health 2023-04, Vol.25 (2), p.291-305
• Main Authors: Wyatt, Laura C., Katigbak, Carina, Riley, Lindsey, Zanowiak, Jennifer M., Ursua, Rhodora, Kwon, Simona C., Trinh-Shevrin, Chau, Islam, Nadia S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asian; Asian Americans; Asian cultural groups; Aspiration; Blood pressure; Clinical trials; Community Health Workers; Community involvement; Community participation; Comparative Law; Data analysis; Demography; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Disease management; Effectiveness; Emigrants and Immigrants; Ethnic factors; Ethnic groups; Exercise; Group Dynamics; Health Personnel; Health Promotion; Humans; Hypertension; Immigrants; International & Foreign Law; Interpersonal Relationship; Intervention; Medical personnel; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority groups; NCT; NCT02041598; NCT03100812; NCT03530579; Original Paper; Participatory research; Philippino; Physical activity; Private International Law; Public Health; Randomized Controlled Trials; Regression analysis; Rice; Self Efficacy; Social behavior; Social factors; Social interaction; Sociodemographics; Sociology; Southeast Asian cultural groups; Staff participation; Time measurement
• ISSN: 1557-1912; 1557-1920; 1557-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s10903-022-01411-y

Racial/ethnic minorities have demonstrated lower rates of physical activity (PA) than non-Hispanic Whites. This study examined outcomes in PA measures after participation in a community health worker (CHW) intervention. We performed a secondary data analysis from four randomized controlled trials utilizing CHWs (n = 842) in New York City (Bangladeshi—diabetes management, Filipino—hypertension management, and Korean and Asian Indian—diabetes prevention). Outcomes included total weekly PA, PA self-efficacy, PA barriers, and PA social interaction. Each measure was examined at baseline and study endpoint. Generalized estimating equation models were fitted to assess the repeated measures over time, while accounting for study group and socio-demographic factors. Moderate PA, recommended PA, and self-efficacy increased significantly among treatment group participants. PA social interaction increased significantly among Filipinos and Asian Indians. In adjusted regression analysis, time x group interaction was significant for all PA outcomes except for PA barriers. Culturally-adapted lifestyle interventions may potentially improve PA-related outcomes in Asian immigrant communities. Trial registration at ClinicalTrials.gov includes: NCT03530579 (RICE Project), NCT02041598 (DREAM Project), and NCT03100812 (AsPIRE).