| FCNA, in collaboration with University of California, San Francisco
and the Hmong Federation of Fresno County are conducting the Appropriate
Health Care for Hmong in Central California project. The project
goals are to improve the health of members of the Hmong community in Central
California by increasing access to appropriate modern health care, and
to improve health services by tailoring them to the needs of the population
and to their health characteristics. The project is focused on improving
prevention and treatment of hypertension.
Hypertension is prevalent in the Hmong population and is recognized as an important health problem by members of the population and their health care providers. Desired outcomes are reduction in risk factors (e.g. inappropriate diet, lack of physical activity, overweight and high blood pressure). The project has three main activities: research, health education and professional training, and interventions with patient and providers. The research component collects information to tailor health education, professional training and other interventions to increase effectiveness of health services. Research topics include: Hmong cultural and behavioral factors related to risks of hypertension and to acceptability of modern health services; analysis of refugee health screening examinations and doctors' and hospitals' records and mortality records in order to describe epidemiological patterns and evaluate current treatment patterns; physical examinations and screening for hypertension and related illnesses to improve knowledge of epidemiology, including undiagnosed, diagnosed, untreated, treated, uncontrolled and controlled hypertension; surveys of risk factors including diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption; and surveys of health behavior related to hypertension. Education and training includes education of leaders in the Hmong community with regard to causes and consequences of hypertension and methods for prevention and treatment through used of structured classes. Community education on these topics will use mass media and a large conference with workshops for community members. Health professionals will be trained in continuing education courses on Hmong culture in relation to health and illness and health seeking behavior, medical students and medical residents will be trained as a part of the regular curriculum at the University of California at San Francisco, Fresno. Interventions will include modification of the directly observed treatment (DOTS) method for use with hypertension patients, and development of culturally appropriate support groups for hypertension patients and newsletters. Results of the project will be disseminated in the community and to health services organizations as well as published in scholarly journals and newsletters. This project is funded by the James Irvines Foundation from December
1997 to November 2000.
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