Erica D. Woodall, MPH¹, Victoria M. Taylor, MD, MPH¹, Yutaka Yasui, PhD¹, Quyen Ngo-Metzger, MD, MPH², Nancy J. Burke, PhD³, Hue Thai, ND⁴, and J. Carey Jackson, MD, MA, MPH⁵. (1) Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PO Box 19024, MP702, 1100 Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109-1024, (206)667-2778, ewoodall@fhcrc.org, (2) Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, LY-330, Boston, MA 02215, (3) Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery, Suite 200, Box 0981, San Francisco, CA 94143 -0981, (4) Refugee and Immigrant Health Promotion Program, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359959, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, (5) Division of General Internal Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359780, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Introduction: Southeast Asian men in the United States are faced with multiple health disparities when compared to their white counterparts. Previous studies have shown that sources of health information vary by race/ethnicity. Our study objective was to examine health information sources among Vietnamese American men. Methods: A population-based survey was conducted in Seattle during 2002. The questionnaire content was guided by members of a Vietnamese community coalition as well as a previous Massachusetts study. Results: Our survey was completed by 509 men (response rate: 79%). The proportions reporting they spoke English and Vietnamese “fluently” or “well” were 26% and 92%, respectively. One-quarter (25%) of the respondents did not have a regular doctor. The majority reported getting health information from Vietnamese language newspapers (73%), Vietnamese radio (51%), and Vietnamese television (64%). Smaller proportions obtained information from English language media. Less than two-thirds of the men received health information from doctors (58%), family members (64%), and friends (58%). Only a minority reported community functions (36%); pagodas, temples, or churches (31%); and the Internet (19%) were information sources. Among our respondents, sources of health information varied significantly by sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age and educational level). Conclusion: Sources of health information among Vietnamese men differ meaningfully from the general United States population. Health educators should consider sources of health information during the development of interventions for the Vietnamese population as a whole, as well as sub-groups of the population.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

• Define sources of health information among Vietnamese American men.
• Describe differences in sources of health information among demographic subgroups of Vietnamese American men (e.g., older and younger men).
• Provide information to health educators to facilitate the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate health education programs.

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.