The overall objectives of this study are to assess the unmet health and cancer needs of the South Asian population in the Greater Houston area and to determine barriers and other factors that affect health in this population, so that we can address these issues by partnering with other researchers, public health and community organizations. Major emphasis will be placed on cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other relevant health concerns, such as the use of complementary and alternative therapies. The study will be conducted in two phases.
PHASE 1
The first phase of the study will be to conduct interviews with community members and key informants, and focus groups to identify the salient health issues in the South Asian community. The information gleaned from the focus groups and interviews will guide us in designing a survey instrument that can be administered to a representative sample of the major South Asian groups (predominantly Asian Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan) in the Greater Houston area.
PHASE 2
Ultimately, the goal of the study is to conduct a survey in the South Asian community to collect quantitative, generalizable data on the health risks in this population and to use that information in developing educational and intervention programs that are culturally acceptable for these groups. Phase 2 is part of the overall plan of the South Asian study but will not be conducted within the scope of the present protocol. A separate protocol will be submitted to the IRB once all the data from Phase I become available. |