Engaging Vietnamese Americans in research on aging and dementia. (1st February 2022) - Meyer, Oanh L
Abstract: Background: Vietnamese Americans are a large Asian American group in the U.S. and at high risk for health disparities, partially due to their limited English proficiency, low socioeconomic status, history of war and trauma, and a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate care. As this relatively recent refugee population continues to age in the U.S., it is important to engage them in research around Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Yet few studies have examined their perceptions of aging, dementia, and ADRD research participation. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of Vietnamese in Northern and Southern California, the state with the largest population of Vietnamese Americans in the U.S. Method: We conducted three focus groups with a total of 20 Vietnamese individuals in both Vietnamese and English. The focus group guide assessed participants' attitudes and experiences with research participation, perceptions of ADRD and aging, and insights into registry outreach and recruitment. There were nine women, and the mean age was 40 years, SD = 17.74 (range 18‐73). Participants consisted of key stakeholders including community leaders, ADRD caregivers, and community members. Result: Several themes emerged from the analyses, including (1) Motivations to participate in research to gain knowledge: (a) for oneself, (b) for family's benefit, and (c) for the Vietnamese American community as a whole; (2) The necessity of trustworthy and credible individuals/spokespersons to promote the research initiative; (3) Recruitment strategies that are age‐specific and culturally appropriate, and (4) Importance of monetary incentives. Conclusion: Results highlight key issues that are important to Vietnamese Americans' participation in aging and dementia research. Practical implications of these results will be discussed.