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

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Abstract

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).

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the CHWs for each study, including Gulnahar Alam, Mamnunul Haq, Mursheda Ahmed, MD Taher, Leonida Gamboa, Pacita Valdellon, Esperanza Perrella, Mohammad Z. Dimaporo, Surinder Kaur, Satinder Kaur, Christina Choi, Myoungmi Kim, and Hyunjae Yim. We also acknowledge all of the study coordinators and co-investigators, including David Aguilar, Rucha Kavathe, Potri Ranka Manis Queano Nur, David Aguilar, and Kay Chun. We especially thank the DREAM coalition, Kalusugan Coalition, Korean Community Services, and UNITED SIKHS and all of their staff for their support in conducting these studies. Finally, we thank all of the volunteers and interns for each of the projects.

Funding

This publication was made possible by Grant 1U48DP001904-01 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Grants P60 MD000538 and R24MD001786 (NIH National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities), Grant 1R01DK110048-01A1 (NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases), and Grant UL1 TR001445 (National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population Health, Section for Health Equity, NYU Langone Health, 180 Madison Ave, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Laura C. Wyatt, Jennifer M. Zanowiak, Simona C. Kwon, Chau Trinh-Shevrin & Nadia S. Islam

  2. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Carina Katigbak

  3. Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, New York, NY, USA

    Lindsey Riley

  4. Alameda Health Consortium, San Leandro, CA, USA

    Rhodora Ursua

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  1. Laura C. Wyatt
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Correspondence to Laura C. Wyatt.

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Wyatt, L.C., Katigbak, C., Riley, L. et al. Promoting Physical Activity Among Immigrant Asian Americans: Results from Four Community Health Worker Studies. J Immigrant Minority Health 25, 291–305 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01411-y

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