Let’s Chat: Development of a Family Group Chat Cancer Prevention Intervention for Vietnamese Families

Vietnamese Americans are disproportionately affected by preventable late-stage cancers. This study capitalizes on the protective role of family networks to develop an online social media family group chat intervention promoting cancer screening among Vietnamese American families. A feasibility study was conducted to assess implementing Let’s Chat, a 4-week intergenerational family group chat intervention to increase cancer screenings. Vietnamese American young adults were trained to act as family health advocates on their private family group chats and share cancer screening messages. The intervention covered material on recommended screenings for colonoscopy for those aged 45+ years, HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination for young adults, and Pap testing for women. Ten families ( n = 41) participated. Family group chat content analysis resulted in (a) sharing personal screening experiences, (b) family members being prompted to schedule cancer screening appointments after discussions in the chat, and (c) family members expressing a sense of urgency to follow up with cancer screening. Postintervention survey results revealed that 48% of participants received screening/vaccination, 77% reported intent to schedule an appointment to discuss recommended screenings, 61% reported discussing cancer screenings outside their group chat, 84% felt comfortable discussing screenings with family after the intervention, and 68% agreed that the group chat facilitated comfort around cancer screening discussions. Family members reported feeling closer to their family and greater comfort discussing cancer and cancer screening. Results from the Let’s Chat feasibility study indicate promise for implementing a randomized trial conditional on grouping family chats by age and gender to increase cancer screenings among Vietnamese American families.

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“Let’s Chat”: A qualitative study exploring intergenerational communication on social media group chats as a cancer prevention intervention opportunity among Vietnamese American families (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.35601 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Huong Thien Duong ◽

Suellen Hopfer

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Cancer Prevention ◽

Family Members ◽

Family Group ◽

Family Status ◽

Vietnamese American ◽

American Families ◽

Media Group

BACKGROUND The adoption of mobile technology in the family context presents a novel cancer prevention opportunity. There have been few studies to our knowledge that have utilized private social media group chats as a way to promote health information. OBJECTIVE In this formative study, we investigate how family group chat platforms can be leveraged to encourage colorectal, HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer screening among intergenerational Vietnamese American families. METHODS Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with Vietnamese young adults to co-create a communication intervention for introducing cancer screening information as part of family social media group chats. RESULTS 13 of the 20 young adults (65%) reported having more than one group chat with immediate and extended family. Preventive health was not a typical topic of family conversations, while food, family announcements, personal updates, humorous videos or photos, and current events were. Young adults expressed openness to initiating conversation with family members about cancer prevention but also raised concerns that may influence family members’ receptivity to the messages. Themes that potentially could impact family members’ willingness to accept cancer prevention messages included (a) family status and hierarchy, (b) gender dynamics, (c) family relational closeness, and (d) source trust and credibility. These considerations may impact whether families will be open to receiving cancer screening information and acting on it. Participants also mentioned practical considerations for intervention and message design including the (a) Vietnamese cultural conversation etiquette of “hỏi thăm,” (b) respect for a doctor’s recommendation, (c) prevention vs. symptom orientation, (d) the FHA’s bilingual capacity, and (e) the busy lives of family members. In response to exemplar messages, participants mentioned that they would prefer to personalize template messages to accommodate conversational norms in their family group chats. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study inform the development of a social media intervention for increasing preventive cancer screening in Vietnamese American families.

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“Let’s Chat”: process evaluation of an intergenerational group chat intervention to increase cancer prevention screening among Vietnamese American families

Translational Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/tbm/ibaa120 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Huong T Duong ◽

Suellen Hopfer

Keyword(s):

Cancer Screening ◽

Cancer Prevention ◽

Hpv Vaccination ◽

Family Members ◽

Family Health ◽

Family Group ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Pap Testing ◽

Crc Screening ◽

Cancer Screenings

Abstract Vietnamese Americans have a higher rate of cervical and colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to other ethnicities. Increasing CRC screening, Pap testing, and HPV vaccination is critical to preventing disproportionate cancer burden among Vietnamese families. To describe the successes and challenges of implementing a novel intergenerational family group chat intervention that encourages CRC screening, Pap testing, and HPV vaccination. Young adult Family Health Advocates (FHAs) were trained to facilitate online family group chat conversations to encourage cancer screenings. Ten families participated in a 4-week intervention. Data collection included screenshot data of family group chat conversations, family member surveys, and post-intervention FHA interviews. Intervention implementation successes included (a) cultural and language brokering, (b) active co-facilitation by family members to follow up on cancer screenings, (c) high levels of family group chat engagement, (d) high acceptability of intervention among families, and (e) accessibility of intervention curriculum. FHA challenges to implement the intervention included (a) sustaining cancer prevention conversations, (b) comfort with navigating family conversations around cancer screening, (c) relevance for all family members, and (d) missed opportunities for correcting misinformation. Researcher challenges included family recruitment and retention. The intervention made cancer-screening messages more accessible and was well accepted by Vietnamese families. Scaling up the intervention will require (a) training FHAs to monitor family conversations and build confidence in sharing medical accurate messages, (b) segmenting group chats by age and gender, and (c) employing multiple family engagement strategies.

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It Is Your Decision to Date Interracially: The Influence of Family Approval on the Likelihood of Interracial/Interethnic Dating

Journal of Family Issues ◽

10.1177/0192513x21994130 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0192513X2199413

Author(s):

Byron Miller ◽

Savanah Catalina ◽

Sara Rocks ◽

Kathryn Tillman

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Young Adults ◽

Romantic Relationships ◽

Family Members ◽

Individual Level ◽

Interracial Romance ◽

Using Data ◽

Do So

Although attitudes toward interracial romantic relationships (IRRs) have generally improved over the years, many Americans still disapprove of their family members being in IRRs. Prior studies have examined correlates of individual-level attitudes about interracial romance, but less is known about whether family members’ attitudes are directly associated with young people’s decisions to date interracially. Using data collected from 790 romantically involved college students at two large public four-year universities, we find that young adults who believe their siblings, parents, and grandparents approve of IRRs have greater odds of dating interracially. Compared to Whites, Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to be interracially involved but their decision to do so is much less dependent on the approval of their parents and grandparents. We also find young adults are more likely to date interracially if they have five or more relatives with IRR experience themselves. The findings and their implications are discussed.

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Promoting Career Design in Youth and Young Adults with ASD: A Feasibility Study

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s10803-021-05146-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Evan E. Dean ◽

Mayumi Hagiwara ◽

Karrie A. Shogren ◽

Michael L. Wehmeyer ◽

Jennifer Shrum

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Youth And Young Adults ◽

Adults With Asd ◽

Young Adults With Asd

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Advancing engagement and capacity for rural cancer control: a mixed-methods case study of a Community-Academic Advisory Board in the Appalachia region of Southwest Virginia

Research Involvement and Engagement ◽

10.1186/s40900-021-00285-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jamie M. Zoellner ◽

Kathleen J. Porter ◽

Donna-Jean P. Brock ◽

Emma Mc Kim Mitchell ◽

Howard Chapman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Cancer Control ◽

Value Added ◽

Advisory Board ◽

Comprehensive Cancer Control ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination ◽

Time Points

Abstract Background The objectives are to: 1) describe engagement processes used to prioritize and address regional comprehensive cancer control needs among a Community-Academic Advisory Board (CAB) in the medically-underserved, rural Appalachian region, and 2) detail longitudinal CAB evaluation findings. Methods This three-year case study (2017–2020) used a convergent parallel, mixed-methods design. The approach was guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, the Comprehensive Participatory Planning and Evaluation process, and Nine Habits of Successful Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalitions. Meeting artifacts were tracked and evaluated. CAB members completed quantitative surveys at three time points and semi-structured interviews at two time points. Quantitative data were analyzed using analysis of variance tests. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via an inductive-deductive process. Results Through 13 meetings, Prevention and Early Detection Action Teams created causal models and prioritized four cancer control needs: human papillomavirus vaccination, tobacco control, colorectal cancer screening, and lung cancer screening. These sub-groups also began advancing into planning and intervention proposal development phases. As rated by 49 involved CAB members, all habits significantly improved from Time 1 to Time 2 (i.e., communication, priority work plans, roles/accountability, shared decision making, value-added collaboration, empowered leadership, diversified funding, trust, satisfaction; all p < .05), and most remained significantly higher at Time 3. CAB members also identified specific challenges (e.g., fully utilizing member expertise), strengths (e.g., diverse membership), and recommendations across habits. Conclusion This project’s equity-based CBPR approach used a CPPE process in conjunction with internal evaluation of cancer coalition best practices to advance CAB efforts to address cancer disparities in rural Appalachia. This approach encouraged CAB buy-in and identified key strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that will lay the foundation for continued involvement in cancer control projects. These engagement processes may serve as a template for similar coalitions in rural, underserved areas.

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