The Cambodian Community Health 2010 Project

Cambodians in Lowell, Massachusetts, are at a disproportionate risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), mainly heart disease and stroke. A critical part of the REACH 2010 strategy is to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations. The Cambodian Community Health 2010 project in Lowell, Massachusetts, targeted CVD as its primary focus and diabetes as a secondary focus for Cambodian populations.

During year one of the project, Community Conversations were held in seven locations throughout the Cambodian community to involve all community members in developing the action plan. The Community Action Plan combined strategies focusing on the Cambodian community and its leaders, the health care system and medical providers, and public health research. Strategies to reach community members included organizing a "walking meditation" trip through a Buddhist temple, conducting weekly Tai Chi classes, promoting medical interpreter services, and conducting a behavioral risk factor survey adapted for Cambodians. A Cambodian Elders' Council also was formed to give a voice to older Cambodian refugees who often are homebound and isolated because of language barriers. Learning tours were also conducted to familiarize Cambodians with emergency services and related facilities such as police stations, hospitals, and city hall. Fruit- and vegetable-picking trips gave participants an opportunity to focus on nutrition, while health education classes, including smoking cessation instruction, were conducted in English as a Second Language classes.

The goal of this program is to improve the health of the Cambodian population in Lowell, Massachusetts.

The Cambodian Community Health outreach project has increased access for Cambodians with CVD and diabetes to a healthcare system, and increased their knowledge of issues related to CVD and diabetes. Specifically, the number of Cambodian patients receiving care at a local health center increased from 0 in 2000 to 4,033 in 2005. Further, more than 50% of community members with CVD and diabetes who participated in educational workshop and peer support groups reported changing their behavior in reaction to what they learned, such as improving eating habits, and 100% of attendees reported telling others about what they learned in the group. Of the Tai Chi class attendees, more than 50% reported doing more exercises like Tai Chi at home.

The project has also increased awareness of Cambodian healthcare beliefs among local healthcare providers. More than 95% of providers who participated in cultural competency training sessions provided through the project were able to identify three of five elements of cultural competence, and more than 84% of 398 providers who attended Cambodian cultural health belief trainings were able to identify at least two things they learned about Cambodian cultural beliefs.