Lay Health Advisors to Promote Breast Cancer Screening

Among Asian American Women

 

Introduction 

 

    Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Asian American women in the U.S., but Asian women have lower rates of breast cancer screening that other U.S. racial or ethnic populations because of cultural, lingual, and economic barriers. 

    The proposed research project aims to promote breast health care among Asian American women through training community Lay Health Advisors (LHAs) who know how to reach women and provide advice, emotional support, and tangible aid for those who lack access to health care.  Funded by a grant from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the two year program seeks to develop educational materials and train LHAs in year one.  During the second year, the program will focus on community outreach and evaluation.  This project is designed to institutionalize the most effective support mechanisms within the Asian American community, so that the LHA structure becomes self-sustaining.

     Since Asian Americans include a number of diverse subpopulations, the pilot program will be conducted among the Chinese community.  Five southeastern Michigan counties have more than 70% of the state’s Chinese population.  Approximately 80 bilingual Chinese LHAs will be trained, using both on-site and distance instruction, to help medically underserved women gain access to mammography screening.  It is expected that through the LHAs’ efforts, approximately 1,600 women will participate in one breast cancer screening promotion event and 160 of the targeted underserved population will have scheduled mammography exams by the end of the project’s 18th month.

     The Lay Health Advisor Education Program is managed by the Healthy Asian Americans Project (HAAP).  Founded in 1996, HAAP conducts research on and promotes understanding of Asian American health issues and seeks to improve access to health care for the Asian American community.  Located at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, HAAP has been researching and promoting Asian Americans’ health issues for more than 7 years.

 

Welcome to The Lay Health Advisor (LHA) Education Program

 

Please click here The Lay Health Advisor (LHA) Education Program