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Overview
In the arena of health and healthcare, a number of factors distinguish Asian Americans from other U.S. ethnic populations: a large majority of Asian Americans is recent immigrant and speaks a language other than English in the home, many of whom are employed in high risk occupations and are medically underserved or uninsured. As a group, Asian Americans have higher incidence and mortality rates from certain types of cancer and other chronic diseases than the population at large; have significantly higher rates of tobacco consumption and exposure to second smoke than the general U.S. population; havebenefited the least from health information of any source, be it public, private or voluntary; and have encountered multi-level barriers to access the health care system. Asian American populations' unfamiliarity with Western healthcare systems and technology is another distinguishing factor that aggravates an untenable and critical health status. These factors, perceived as insurmountable barriers to healthcare by Asian Americans, provide the rationale for Center for Asian Health community-based participatory research and the Center's research goal of reducing or eliminating health disparities in these populations. Center for Asian Health research encompasses a range of health issues that reflect both national priorities as well as scientifically identified community concerns. The Center, in cooperation with a large network of community, institutional and clinical partners, has focused on four broad areas of research that include cancer, tobacco, other chronic diseases, and clinical trial education. These core areas of research are enhanced by the involvement of Asian junior researchers and community partners to ensure that the research outcome has a direct impact on reducing or eliminating health disparities. These core areas of research are carried out through epidemiological studies, community-based pilot projects, and large randomized trials. An international component of the Center research examines issues in situ and provides greater insight into problems and contributes to a better understanding of health behavior and the design of viable prevention, patient navigation and intervention treatment strategies. 
Cancer Research
Cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans. Vietnamese and Koreans have the highest and second highest rates of cervical cancer in the U.S., respectively. The incidence of liver cancer is 1.7-11.3 times higher than in the population at large. Korean men have the highest incidence of stomach cancer among racial groups, while lung cancer is 18% higher among Vietnamese than White Americans. Studies have shown that native-born Asian American women have greater proportion of tumors larger than 1 cm at diagnosis than other racial groups. Because a number of these cancers may be attributed to lifestyle and tolerated behaviors, culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate educational programs targeting individual Asian ethnic groups can effect a significant reduction in the incidence and prevalence of these cancers. Center for Asian Health cancer research effort has focused, and continues to focus, on preventable cancers while as well as on improving the lives of those affected by the disease through enhanced knowledge and awareness of the disease, and the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment and management. The Center's research core has included cervical and breast cancer, prostate and stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, and hepatitis B/liver cancer. Center publications in peer reviewed journals cover a wide range of topics that include cervical cancer screening, barriers to cancer health services, cultural beliefs regarding breast cancer among Chinese women, knowledge, attitudes about and barriers to hepatitis B screening, and breast cancer prevention, prevention, treatment and navigation for Asian women, among other. Scientific Publications
Tobacco Research
Center for Asian Health has made substantial contributions to knowledge about tobacco use and its prevention and cessation in Asian Americans. The scientific core of tobacco research has been the hallmark of Center research since its establishment in 2000. Additionally, Center research has had a salutary effect on several Asian communities residing in the Eastern Region of the U.S., demonstrating the feasibility of reversing tobacco use trends among chronic smokers, and preventing initiation of smoking among the young through the application of competent, culturally appropriate and scientifically proven strategies. Research in this area focuses on adolescents, adults and environmental smoke. It is designed to explore a variety of prevention and intervention strategies in diverse Asian cultural and ethnic groups. In its effort to understand tobacco behavior and the 'culture of tobacco', the Center has elicited the support and collaboration of Mainland China's foremost Schools of Public Health and has conducted cooperative research with their scientists. China is the largest producer of tobacco products in the world and represents the largest consumer of these products. The policy implications of this collaborative effort are far reaching. To date, Center research has included a wide-ranging effort in several Asian communities (Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodians and other underserved Asian communities) that included baseline epidemiologic studies, Asian youth smoking intervention and cessation, adult-focused prevention and interventions strategies that combine clinical, motivational, and pharmacological approaches, secondhand smoke prevention for families and communities, and the use of drama to deliver health messages to large multi-age audiences.
Other Chronic Disease Research
In its effort to reduce or eliminate health disparities in Asian Americans, the Center initiated research in other chronic diseases that are more prevalent in under-served and under-insured populations, including Asians Americans. Cardiovascular disease is the final common pathway from metabolic syndrome, peripheral vascular disease and chronic renal disease. Risk factors for the disease include, among other, hypertension, smoking, obesity, inactivity, psychosocial factors (e.g., stress), and heredity. Treatment options include exercise, weight management, dietary modifications, blood pressure management, lipid management, and psychosocial screening. The first phase of the Center research has targeted two significant risk factors: hypertension management and diabetes management. A second chronic disease identified by the Center is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is loss of bone density that leads to fractures and breaking of bones. While the disease affects more women than men, both men and women are equally affected by it in old age. Genes, age, and lifestyle are factors that predict onset and progression of the disease. Although treatable, osteoporosis is not curable, hence the important of timely intervention, particularly at a young age. The vulnerability of Asian Americans to the disease may be attributed to a number of factors among which are: lack of awareness of and knowledge about the disease, the absence of disease symptoms, and lack of adequate healthcare. Center research is focusing on culturally and linguistically appropriate and feasible approaches to early prevention and management of the disease.
Clinical Trial Education Research
Clinical trials education research has focused on testing the effectiveness of culturally tailored programs to encourage Asians to participate in clinical trials such as NLST, STAR and SELECT. |