BACKGROUND: Little is known about interest in faith-based health promotion programs among Asian American populations. Among the Christian denominations, the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church is known to place a strong doctrinal emphasis on health. OBJECTIVES: To understand appropriate ways to develop and implement health promotion programs and to conduct research among Korean American SDAs. METHODS: We collaborated with the North American Division of Korean SDA Churches which sponsors annual week-long religious retreats for their church members. We developed and administered a 10-page questionnaire at their 2009 retreat in order to assess socio-demographic and church characteristics, religiosity, perceived relationship between health and religion, and interest and preferences for church-based health promotion programs. RESULTS: Overall, 223 participants completed our survey (123 in Korean and 100 in English). The sample consisted of regular churchgoers who were involved in a variety of helping activities, and many holding leadership positions in their home churches. The vast majority was interested in receiving health information at church (80%) in the form of seminars, cooking classes and workshops (50-60%). Fewer respondents were interested in support groups (27%). Some interests and preferences differed between English and Korean language groups. CONCLUSION: Korean American SDA church retreat participants from a large geographic area are very interested in receiving health information and promoting health at their churches and can potentially serve as "agents of influence" in their respective communities.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about interest in faith-based health promotion programs among Asian American populations. Among the Christian denominations, the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church is known to place a strong doctrinal emphasis on health. OBJECTIVES: To understand appropriate ways to develop and implement health promotion programs and to conduct research among Korean American SDAs. METHODS: We collaborated with the North American Division of Korean SDA Churches which sponsors annual week-long religious retreats for their church members. We developed and administered a 10-page questionnaire at their 2009 retreat in order to assess socio-demographic and church characteristics, religiosity, perceived relationship between health and religion, and interest and preferences for church-based health promotion programs. RESULTS: Overall, 223 participants completed our survey (123 in Korean and 100 in English). The sample consisted of regular churchgoers who were involved in a variety of helping activities, and many holding leadership positions in their home churches. The vast majority was interested in receiving health information at church (80%) in the form of seminars, cooking classes and workshops (50-60%). Fewer respondents were interested in support groups (27%). Some interests and preferences differed between English and Korean language groups. CONCLUSION: Korean American SDA church retreat participants from a large geographic area are very interested in receiving health information and promoting health at their churches and can potentially serve as "agents of influence" in their respective communities.
Authors: S C Kwon; S Patel; C Choy; J Zanowiak; C Rideout; S Yi; L Wyatt; M D Taher; M J Garcia-Dia; S S Kim; T K Denholm; R Kavathe; N S Islam Journal: Transl Behav Med Date: 2017-09 Impact factor: 3.046
Authors: Roshan Bastani; Beth A Glenn; Annette E Maxwell; Angela M Jo; Alison K Herrmann; Catherine M Crespi; Weng K Wong; L Cindy Chang; Susan L Stewart; Tung T Nguyen; Moon S Chen; Victoria M Taylor Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2015-06-23 Impact factor: 4.254