Assessing Health Needs of Asian Americans

Survey sheds light on health status and behaviors of Chinese and Vietnamese households

Together - Summer 2009

By Rachel Winters

Texas has the fourth largest Asian American population in the United States, behind New York, California and Hawaii. To better understand the health needs of this fast-growing group, and to develop programs and services to meet those needs, M. D. Anderson’s Center for Research on Minority Health conducted a survey to collect data on the health status and behaviors of Chinese and Vietnamese in Houston and surrounding areas.

“Data on Asian American health in Texas and the United States was very limited when our project began,” says Beverly Gor, Ed.D., postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Research on Minority Health and one of the study’s principal investigators. “Without data, we cannot accurately identify needs and address public health issues for this community. The Asian American Health Needs Assessment collected data that identified healthcare gaps for Asian Americans. Understanding what areas need improvement helps us to develop better programs that improve the quality of life and health of the Asian American community in greater Houston.”

Telephone Survey Collects Important Health Information

Researchers interviewed 405 Chinese and 409 Vietnamese adults in four Houston-area counties about their health, health behaviors, and their use of health services.

“The study showed that language is a barrier to health care access for Chinese and Vietnamese populations,” Gor says. “Only 10% of survey participants chose to answer survey questions in English, the rest selected Cantonese, Mandarin or Vietnamese. We also found that respondents had lower cancer screening rates than the general Texas population.”

Both Chinese and Vietnamese respondents had low screening rates for cervical and prostate cancers, but rates were lowest for colorectal cancer. Of people 50 and older, only 25% of Chinese and 22% of Vietnamese had ever had a colonoscopy.

Another major finding was that a high percentage of respondents, 21% of Chinese and 31% of Vietnamese, did not have health insurance. This may contribute to the low cancer screening rates. Hispanics are the only other ethnic group in the United States that has higher rates of uninsured people.

Study Shows Need for Health Education

“Because many Asian Americans are not getting screening exams, when cancer is found it may have grown and become harder to treat,” Gor says. “Screening guidelines also may go against immigrants’ cultural beliefs or customs. Another challenge is access to health care. Many have said, ‘Why would I even want to screen for cancer if I don’t have a way to get treatment for it?’ The take-home message is that we need to educate people about the importance of early detection and also link them to resources for care.”

The study showed that 93% of Vietnamese and 62% of Chinese reported that they don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables (at least five servings a day) to prevent cancer. Both groups also reported almost no leisure time for physical activity. According to the American Cancer Society, Asians living in the United States have higher rates of cancer than Asians living in their native countries.

“Chinese and Vietnamese Americans need cancer information that is easy to read and understand and that is mindful of their culture,” Gor says. “To be able to share data like this with community groups, and to help them to better frame the issues and apply for grants to develop solutions, is a big opportunity.”

Researchers would like to conduct a similar study with the Filipino and South Asian populations. Repeating this study for different Asian American populations will provide clearer directions for how to address cancer disparities for the entire Asian American community.