Community-Engaged Research of Older Pacific Islander Adults: Results From the PIHS and the NHPI NHIS

Despite the well-established need to measure and address the growing issue of disparities among older minority populations, little is known about the prevalence and correlates of disability, morbidity, and mortality among older US Pacific Islander adults. This paper discusses culturally appropriate approaches for conducting evidence-based research on a representative probability sample of older Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults interviewed as part of the Pacific Islander Health Study and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey. Important strategies that increase response rates and respondent participation when engaging this multi-ethnic and culturally diverse special population in research are highlighted. The model describes successful methodologies that combine CBPR approaches of community engagement with more traditional survey design methods. The findings from this work emphasizes the importance of representative data on hard-to-survey populations to illustrate granular differences in health outcomes within underrepresented populations that are not reflected in national health surveys.

2025

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: To establish a state-wide research registry of diverse participants. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We garnered broad institutional and community support by involving TRI’s Community Engagement team, its Community Advisory Board (CAB), and 3 UAMS patient CABs in selecting Web site content, images, and colors. Using this feedback, the TRI Recruitment Unit (RU), in conjunction with UAMS Communications and the Center for Health Literacy, developed the materials and crafted comprehensive communication and recruitment strategies. The UAMS Center for Pacific Islander Health, Hispanic faculty, and CAB members translated materials. UAMS IT programmed the user-friendly site to allow registration from smartphones and i-Pads and linked to UAMS patient electronic health messages. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The RU committee implemented successful innovative strategies, including recruiting at the Arkansas State Fair and ballgames, attended by people of all races, ages, and socio-economic levels. Using i-Pads at the sites, recruitment took <5 minutes/registrant. Within 8 months, >2400 participants from across Arkansas had joined the registry: 14% African-Americans, 8% Pacific Islanders, 5% Hispanic, and 3% Native American. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Involving CAB multidisciplinary input to design and implement recruitment materials was highly successful. Despite challenges of recruiting under-represented groups, the registry includes 30% minorities. By tracking registrants’ demographics with Lime Survey software, the RU will prioritize future recruitment events to maximize diversity of registrants.