The Asian Grocery Store-Based Cancer Education Program: Creating New Education Modules

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Health Education
• Health Disparities

Background:

• The UCSD Moores Cancer Center's Asian Grocery Store-Based Cancer Education Program (the Program) has operated since 1994.
• The Program disseminates cancer and poison control information to Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities.
• A systematic process was developed to create new health education modules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process of identifying health topics for the Program.
• To report pilot testing results of a newly developed educational module.
• To ensure cultural and linguistic relevance in health education for API communities.

Main Methods:

• Module development guided by the Health Belief Model and Tipping Point Model.
• Selection of health topics based on community need and modifiable risk factors (Pareto principle).
• Creation of "sticky messaging" for memorable calls-to-action and pilot testing in grocery store outreaches.

Main Results:

• Liver cancer identified as a pressing health issue for API communities.
• Reasonably modifiable risk factors for liver cancer were identified.
• Compelling calls-to-action were generated to decrease exposure risk, and the module showed cultural and linguistic alignment.

Conclusions:

• The described methodical process, guided by scientific principles, successfully developed and pilot-tested a liver cancer control module.
• This evidence-based approach enhances the likelihood of addressing the health needs of the API community.
• The Program provides a proven and sustainable strategy for disseminating health information to underserved populations.