Moon S. Chen

An acculturation scale for Southeast Asians.

SummaryThis article reports the development of an acculturation scale for Southeast Asian immigrants. From factor analyses of responses on 13 items obtained from samples of three different Southeast Asian ethnic groups, i.e., Cambodians, Laotians, and Vietnamese, two subscales were derived: (1) proficiency in languages (land of origin versus English), and (2) language, social and food (LSF) preferences. Inter-item reliability of the scales was demonstrated for each of the three ethnic groups, with Cronbach alpha coefficients of 0.76 or above. Construct validity was also established within each of the three ethnic groups by demonstrating expected associations of the subscales with current age, years in the USA, total years of education, percentage of lifetime in the USA, and age on entering the USA. Multivariate analyses within each of the ethnic groups revealed that, once controlling for years of education, percentage of lifetime in the USA, and type of health care coverage, although not significant for the Cambodians (P=0.08) males tended to show higher scores for the proficiency in language subscale in comparison to females. Similar multivariate analyses for the LSF preference subscale showed that although slightly higher for the males, the differences between the genders was not significant for the Cambodians (P=0.78); both the Laotian (P=0.23) and Vietnamese (P=0.01) females showed higher scores in comparison to males although only just reaching significance for the Vietnamese.

Tobacco Use Characteristics Among Rural Ohio Appalachians

Appalachians remain at high risk for cancer, heart and lung disease, in part because of their high prevalence of tobacco use; yet, information about their tobacco consumption patterns is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe tobacco consumption variables among rural adult Appalachian tobacco users. Subjects, aged 18 and older (N = 249), participated in a face-to-face interview about tobacco consumption variables and knowledge regarding the health effects of tobacco at fairs in two rural Ohio Appalachian counties. The majority of participants were categorized as precontemplators, although 21 percent were classified in preparation stage of change. Mean age of initiation was 16.6 years and number of cigarettes smoked per day (cpd) was significantly higher for men, as compared to women. One-third of males reported the use of smokeless tobacco. The majority had not tried to quit for more than a year and the average number of previous quit attempts was low. One-half of the sample had been advised in the past to quit by their physician. Few had used nicotine replacement with past quit attempts but greater than half would consider this approach with future attempts. Knowledge about the health effects of smoking indicated that most were aware of the relationship between smoking and cancer but less than one-half recognized its association with heart disease. Those with less education were less informed about the health effects to self and non-smokers. While a sizeable portion expressed interest in quitting, knowledge about the health effects of smoking is lacking, especially with regard to heart disease and among those with less education.

Cardiovascular Health Among Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders: An Examination of Health Status and Intervention Approaches

Purpose of the Review. The purpose of this review is to examine the cardiovascular health status of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders by primary risk factor and review current intervention approaches targeting this population. Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in the United States have experienced triple digit percentage increases in population for every decade since 1970. Despite their rapidly increasing numbers, little is known about their cardiovascular health status. Search Methods Used. This article reviews the literature on the demographics, mortality, and prevalence of major cadiovascular risk factors among Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders. Selected intervention programs are also described. Summary of Important Findings. Data on cardiovascular disease mortality for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders are relatively limited because few states collect ethnically specific mortality statistics. Data on cardiovascular risk factors, particularly smoking and hypertension, for certain Asian American/Pacific Islander groups portend excessive cardiovascular disease burdens. Major Conclusions. Data specific to ethnic groups comprising Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders need to be culled. Also, scientifically valid and linguistically appropriate interventions approved by ethnic community leaders are needed to address Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.

Bimodal initiation of smokeless tobacco usage: Implications for cancer education

One hundred fifty (150) randomly chosen adult male subjects (average age 37) drawn from a university general dental clinic were classified by self-report into three equal categories of fifty smokeless tobacco users, fifty cigarette smokers (non-smokeless tobacco users), and fifty non-tobacco users. According to questionnaire results, a bimodal curve was exhibited among smokeless tobacco users with the two peaks of initiation at ages 12 and 18 compared to a unimodal age of initiation for cigarette smokers at age 16. Two different cohorts of smokeless tobacco users based on age of initiation were observed with differences reported in level of education, urban versus rural origin, average length of time in using smokeless tobacco, and the type of smokeless tobacco product used. Young initiators appeared to be primarily from rural communities having a strong parental or familial influence when initiating smokeless tobacco usage, whereas older initiators appeared to be primarily from more urbanized regions with peer influences as the most significant for initiating smokeless tobacco usage. Other characteristics associated with one or the other cohort were also reported, pointing to different educational measures that may be necessary for prevention and intervention, based on the age of initiating smokeless tobacco usage, as well as place of residence.

Proving the Effects of Health Promotion in Industry: An Academician's Perspective

Moon S. Chen, Jr., is Assistant Professor of Health Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210. Does health promotion in industry really lead to heightened employee health awareness, shorter periods of absenteeism, enhanced corporate images, improved employee health, reduced health insurance premiums, and decreased employer-financed health care expenditures?1-4 Certainly we hope so. Many justifications for health promotion programs in industry have been built on such expectations. The question is whether these expectations have been fulfilled. Or, in other words, has there been a cause-and-effect relationship confirmed between the initiation of health promotion programs in industry and the previously purported benefits? After a review of the literature and a careful analysis of the requirements for demonstrating causeand-effect relationships, I believe that the answer is equivocal. In this article I shall examine the reported evidences for the effects or outcomes of all the health promotion programs in industry (where sufficient details were available) as reported in three major health education journals from 1980 through the first half of 1983 (through June 1983). Twelve other examples of health promotion programs in industry from other published works will also be discussed. Second, program outcomes based