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Taking the Community Seriously: A health promotion project for the Hmong
Author(s) -
Peterson Lisa,
Martin Anna,
Vang Earliana,
Camozzi Michele,
Sutherland Barbara,
Wakimoto Patricia
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1006-c
Subject(s) - outreach , nature versus nurture , public relations , health promotion , curriculum , medical education , focus group , promotion (chess) , community health , premise , medicine , psychology , political science , sociology , nursing , pedagogy , public health , politics , law , linguistics , philosophy , anthropology
In response to Hmong community concerns regarding rising rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, an extender‐delivered health promotion project was undertaken. From the beginning, efforts have been made to enlist the community's participation. This is an integral component of our successful outreach in each step of the project's development, delivery, and evaluation. A basic premise has been that expertise resides within the community on their own social and cultural environment, which has been shown to have a significant impact on community health. Focus groups were conducted with Hmong community members to elicit information about effective health messages. Education materials were developed, field‐tested and integrated with Hmong cultural knowledge, values, and strengths. The materials and methods were integrated as part of a Hmong‐adapted nutrition education curriculum. Respect was paid to a preference for learning through “showing” rather than “telling”. Taking the community seriously and engaging their participation in this way will ensure that subsequent outreach efforts are recognized as a true benefit and as a shared commitment. An extender‐based project has the potential to nurture and strengthen community‐centered actions that are then capable of creating significant impact in the everyday lives of the Hmong. This research was funded in part by NIH Center for Minority Health Disparities Grant Center # P60MD00222.