Traditional and new lifestyle interventions to prevent breast cancer recurrence (TANICA): a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is the second cause of death from cancer in Guam and Hawai'i and disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiian, CHamoru, and Filipino women. Although a few culturally informed interventions addressing breast cancer survivorship exist, none have been developed or tested for Native Hawaiian, CHamoru, and Filipino women. To address this, the TANICA study began with key informant interviews in 2021. METHODS: Purposive sampling and grounded theory approaches were used to conduct semi-structured interviews with individuals experienced in providing healthcare or implementing community programs and/or research with ethnic groups of interest in Guam and Hawai'i. A literature review and expert consultation identified intervention components, engagement strategies, and settings. Interview questions aimed to understand the relevance of evidence-based interventions and explored socio-cultural factors. Participants completed demographics and cultural affiliation surveys. Interviews were independently analyzed by trained researchers. Themes were mutually agreed upon by reviewers and key themes were identified based on frequencies. RESULTS: Nineteen interviews were conducted in Hawai'i (n=9) and Guam (n=10). Interviews confirmed the relevance of most of the previously identified evidence-based intervention components for Native Hawaiian, CHamoru, and Filipino breast cancer survivors. Ideas around culturally responsive intervention components and strategies emerged that were shared across and unique to each ethnic group and site. CONCLUSION: Evidence-based intervention components appear relevant, yet cultural and place-based strategies are needed for Native Hawaiian, CHamoru, and Filipino women in Guam and Hawai'i. Future research should triangulate these findings with the lived experiences of Native Hawaiian, CHamoru, and Filipino breast cancer survivors to develop culturally informed interventions.

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease among Asian, Pacific Islander and multi-race populations in Hawai'i and California.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the US. CVD incidence is influenced by many demographic, clinical, cultural, and psychosocial factors, including race and ethnicity. Despite recent research, there remain limitations on understanding CVD health among Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs), particularly some subgroups and multi-racial populations. Combining diverse API populations into one study group and difficulties in defining API subpopulations and multi-race individuals have hampered efforts to identify and address health disparities in these growing populations. METHODS: The study cohort was comprised of all adult patients at Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i and Palo Alto Medical Foundation in California during 2014-2018 (n = 684,363). EHR-recorded ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes were used to indicate coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and overall CVD. Self-reported race and ethnicity data were used to construct 12 mutually exclusive single and multi-race groups, and a Non-Hispanic White (NHW) comparison group. Logistic regression models were used to derive prevalence estimates, odds ratios, and confidence intervals for the 12 race/ethnicity groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of CHD and PVD varied 4-fold and stroke and overall CVD prevalence varied 3-fold across API subpopulations. Among Asians, the Filipino subgroup had the highest prevalence of all three CVD conditions and overall CVD. Chinese people had the lowest prevalence of CHD, PVD and overall CVD. In comparison to Native Hawaiians, Other Pacific Islanders had significantly higher prevalence of CHD. For the multi-race groups that included Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, the prevalence of overall CVD was significantly higher than that for either single-race Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders. The multi-race Asian + White group had significantly higher overall CVD prevalence than both the NHW group and the highest Asian subgroup (Filipinos). CONCLUSIONS: Study findings revealed significant differences in overall CVD, CHD, stroke, and PVD among API subgroups. In addition to elevated risk among Filipino, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander groups, the study identified particularly elevated risk among multi-race API groups. Differences in disease prevalence are likely mirrored in other cardiometabolic conditions, supporting the need to disaggregate API subgroups in health research.

Health outcomes and healthcare utilization of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders living with HIV in Hawai'i: A mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES: Past research shows mixed outcomes in terms of HIV-related disparities among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHOPI). This study investigates HIV-related disparities among NHOPI living with HIV in Hawai'i. DESIGN: An explanatory sequential design was utilized. The quantitative portion analyzed survey data from a statewide Ryan White Needs Assessment (N = 398) to examine the differences in viral suppression and satisfaction with care between NHOPI and other ethnic groups. Utilizing the behavioral model for vulnerable populations (BMVP), semi-structured interviews (N = 16) were conducted next to explain what factors play a role in satisfaction with care and viral suppression when it comes to NHOPI living with HIV in Hawai'i. RESULTS: Among the 398 participants 13% were NHOPI. NHOPI were more likely to have a viral load of ≥10,000 copies/mL compared to those who didn't identify as NHOPI. However, there were no significant differences for other viral load levels (20-199 or 200-9999), and only 20 participants (5.2%) had a viral load of 10,000 copies/mL or more. No significant ethnic differences were found in satisfaction with medical care. In the qualitative phase, factors from all domains of the BMVP were represented within the four themes identified: (1) Care coordination is essential- with AIDs service organizations taking the lead; (2) HIV care, as well as overall health, is defined by the effectiveness of medication; (3) Initial diagnosis is a critical moment for intervention; and (4) Aspects of culture are intangible. CONCLUSION: Among NHOPI in Hawai'i who are engaged in case management, there appears to be no substantial disparities in either viral load or satisfaction with care compared to other ethnic groups. Despite this, qualitative findings provide insights on how ethnicity and culture may still be playing a role. Addressing all domains of the BMVP is crucial to addressing this.

A Cultural Dance Program Improves Hypertension Control and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Native Hawaiians: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Native Hawaiians have higher hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates than non-Hispanic whites, calling for culturally responsive interventions to close this gap. PURPOSE: We tested the effects of a 6-month behavioral intervention, a cultural dance program based on hula (the customary dance of Hawai'i), for improving blood pressure (BP) and CVD risk among Native Hawaiians with uncontrolled HTN. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, we tested the effects of the hula-based intervention among 263 Native Hawaiians with uncontrolled HTN (systolic ≥ 140 or ≥ 130 mmHg if diabetes) and no CVD at enrollment. All participants received a brief culturally tailored heart health education before random assignment to the hula-based intervention (n = 131) or the education-only waitlist control (n = 132). Intervention received hula lessons and group-based activities for 6 months. Control received only 1-week education through 6 months. RESULTS: Intervention yielded greater reductions in systolic (-15.3 mmHg) and diastolic (-6.4 mmHg) BP than control (-11.8 and -2.6 mmHg, respectively) from baseline to 6 months (p < .05). At 6 months, 43% of intervention participants compared to 21% of controls achieved a HTN stage <130/80 mmHg (p < .001). The 10-year CVD risk reduction was two times greater for the intervention group than the control group based on the Framingham Risk Score calculator. All improvements for intervention participants were maintained at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This trial represents one of the few rigorously conducted examinations of an Indigenous practice leveraged for health promotion, with implications for other ethnic populations.

The Imperative for Research to Promote Health Equity in Indigenous Communities.

Health disparities exact a devastating toll upon Indigenous people in the USA. However, there has been scant research investment to develop strategies to address these inequities in Indigenous health. We present a case for increased health promotion, prevention, and treatment research with Indigenous populations, providing context to the recent NIH investment in the Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (IRINAH) network. We discuss the disproportionate costs and consequences of disparities borne by Indigenous groups, the limited evidence base on effective intervention for this population, how population uniqueness often makes transfer of existing intervention models difficult, and additional challenges in creating interventions for Indigenous settings. Given the history of colonial disruption that has included genocide, forced removal from lands, damaging federal, state and local policies and practices, environmental contamination, and most recently, climate change, we conclude research that moves beyond minor transformations of existing majority population focused interventions, but instead truly respects Indigenous wisdom, knowledge, traditions, and aspirations is needed, and that investment in intervention science to address Indigenous health disparities represent a moral imperative.

Growing from Our Roots: Strategies for Developing Culturally Grounded Health Promotion Interventions in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities.

Given the paucity of empirically based health promotion interventions designed by and for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (i.e., Native) communities, researchers and partnering communities have had to rely on the adaptation of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) designed for non-Native populations, a decidedly sub-optimal approach. Native communities have called for development of Indigenous health promotion programs in which their cultural worldviews and protocols are prioritized in the design, development, testing, and implementation. There is limited information regarding how Native communities and scholars have successfully collaborated to design and implement culturally based prevention efforts "from the ground up." Drawing on five diverse community-based Native health intervention studies, we describe strategies for designing and implementing culturally grounded models of health promotion developed in partnership with Native communities. Additionally, we highlight indigenist worldviews and protocols that undergird Native health interventions with an emphasis on the incorporation of (1) original instructions, (2) relational restoration, (3) narrative-[em]bodied transformation, and (4) indigenist community-based participatory research (ICBPR) processes. Finally, we demonstrate how culturally grounded interventions can improve population health when they prioritize local Indigenous knowledge and health-positive messages for individual to multi-level community interventions.

How stakeholder engagement influenced a randomized comparative effectiveness trial testing two Diabetes Prevention Program interventions in a Marshallese Pacific Islander Community.

BACKGROUND: Marshallese face significant health disparities, with particularly high rates of type 2 diabetes. Engaging stakeholders in the research process is essential to reduce health inequities. METHODS: A community- and patient-engaged research approach was used to involve community Marshallese stakeholders in a randomized comparative effectiveness trial testing two Diabetes Prevention Program interventions. RESULTS: The article outlines the engagement process and the specific influence that stakeholders had on the research planning and implementation, discussing the areas of agreement and disagreement between community and patient stakeholders and academic investigators and documenting changes to the research protocol. CONCLUSION: The article provides an example of methods that can be used to design and conduct a randomized controlled trial testing with a population who has been underrepresented in research and suffered significant historical trauma.

Diabetes Disparities and Promising Interventions to Address Diabetes in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Populations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) population is rapidly growing in the USA. NHPIs face significant health disparities and have a high prevalence of diabetes compared to the general US population. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent culturally-adapted diabetes interventions have shown promise in addressing these disparities among NHPI communities. The interventions showed success by utilizing a community-based approach that honored NHPIs' collectivist culture, addressed social determinants of health that influence disease control and prevention, and utilized NHPI community health workers (CHWs) and peer educators for key roles in implementation of the intervention. To address health disparities in the NHPI community, much can be learned from existing, successful interventions. Promising interventions share several attributes. The interventions were: culturally adapted using a community-based participatory research approach; addressed specific social determinants of health (i.e., cost of healthy food, transportation, access to health care) that influence disease control and prevention; honored the collectivist culture of NHPI communities by integrating social networks and extended family members; and utilized NHPI community members, including peer educators and CHWs, for intervention implementation. Further investment to scale these interventions for regional and national implementation is needed to address the significant diabetes disparities that NHPIs face.

Culturally responsive approaches to health promotion for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

CONTEXT: Obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have reached epidemic proportions among Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NHPI). Culturally responsive interventions that account for their interpersonal, sociocultural and socioeconomic realities are a public health priority. OBJECTIVE: To describe cultural adaptation and culturally grounded approaches to developing health interventions for NHPI and to review the culturally responsive approaches used by, and outcomes from, two long-standing community-based participatory research projects (CBPR) in Hawai'i: PILI 'Ohana and KaHOLO Projects. METHODS: A literature review of 14 studies from these two projects was done to exemplify the methods applied to culturally adapting existing evidence-based interventions and to developing novel interventions from the 'ground up' to address health disparities in NHPI. Of the 14 studies reviewed, 11 were studies of the clinical and behavioural outcomes of both types of interventions. RESULTS: Both culturally adapted and culturally grounded approaches using community-based assets and NHPI cultural values/practices led to establishing sustainable and scalable interventions that significantly improved clinical measures of obesity, diabetes and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Several recommendations are provided based on the lessons learned from the PILI 'Ohana and KaHOLO Projects. Multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research using CBPR approaches are needed to elucidate how human biology is impacted by societal, environmental and psychological factors that increase the risk for cardiometabolic diseases among NHPI to develop more effective health promotion interventions and public health policies.

Ka-HOLO Project: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a native cultural dance program for cardiovascular disease prevention in Native Hawaiians.

BACKGROUND: As a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD), hypertension affects 33% of U.S. adults. Relative to other US races and ethnicities, Native Hawaiians have a high prevalence of hypertension and are 3 to 4 times more likely to have CVD. Effective, culturally-relevant interventions are needed to address CVD risk in this population. Investigators of the Ka-HOLO Project developed a study design to test the efficacy of an intervention that uses hula, a traditional Hawaiian dance, to increase physical activity and reduce CVD risk. METHODS: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial with a wait-list control design will be implemented to test a 6-month intervention based on hula to manage blood pressure and reduce CVD risk in 250 adult Native Hawaiians with diagnosed hypertension. Half of the sample will be randomized to each arm, stratified across multiple study sites. Primary outcomes are reduction in systolic blood pressure and improvement in CVD risk as measured by the Framingham Risk Score. Other psychosocial and sociocultural measures will be included to determine mediators of intervention effects on primary outcomes. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months for all participants, and at 12 months for intervention participants only. DISCUSSION: This trial will elucidate the efficacy of a novel hypertension management program designed to reduce CVD risk in an indigenous population by using a cultural dance form as its physical activity component. The results of this culturally-based intervention will have implications for other indigenous populations globally and will offer a sustainable, culturally-relevant means of addressing CVD disparities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02620709 , registration date November 23, 2015.

Social Network Characteristics, Social Support, and Cigarette Smoking among Asian/Pacific Islander Young Adults.

Cigarette smoking may be one of the factors contributing to the high levels of cancer-related mortality experienced by certain Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI) subgroups (e.g., Native Hawaiian). Given the collectivist cultural orientation attributed to A/PI groups, social strategies are recommended for substance abuse or smoking cessation treatment among A/PI. However, research examining how social network characteristics and social support relate to smoking across A/PI subgroups has been lacking. This study investigated the associations between social network characteristics (e.g., size, composition), perceived social support, and recent cigarette use across Native Hawaiian, Filipino, and East Asian (e.g., Japanese, Chinese) young adults (18-35 year old). Cross-sectional, self-report data were collected from N = 435 participants (M age = 25.6, SD = 8.3; 61% women). Ethnic differences were found in a number of pathways linking social network characteristics, perceived social support, and cigarette smoking. Larger network size was strongly associated with higher perceived social support and lower recent cigarette smoking among Native Hawaiians but not Filipinos or East Asians. Higher perceived social support was associated with lower recent smoking among East Asians and Filipinos but not Native Hawaiians. Implications are discussed with regard to smoking prevention and cessation among A/PI.

Biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure in racial/ethnic groups at high risk for lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: We examined biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure among Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, and Whites, groups that have different lung cancer risk. METHODS: We collected survey data and height, weight, saliva, and carbon monoxide (CO) levels from a sample of daily smokers aged 18-35 (n = 179). Mean measures of nicotine, cotinine, cotinine/cigarettes per day ratio, trans 3' hydroxycotinine, the nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR), and expired CO were compared among racial/ethnic groups. RESULTS: The geometric means for cotinine, the cotinine/cigarettes per day ratio, and CO did not significantly differ among racial/ethnic groups in the adjusted models. After adjusting for gender, body mass index, menthol smoking, Hispanic ethnicity, and number of cigarettes smoked per day, the NMR was significantly higher among Whites than among Native Hawaiians and Filipinos (NMR = 0.33, 0.20, 0.19, P ≤ .001). The NMR increased with increasing White parental ancestry. The NMR was not significantly correlated with social-environmental stressors. CONCLUSIONS: Racial/ethnic groups with higher rates of lung cancer had slower nicotine metabolism than Whites. The complex relationship between lung cancer risk and nicotine metabolism among racial/ethnic groups needs further clarification.

Patient perspectives on the Hula Empowering Lifestyle Adaptation Study: benefits of dancing hula for cardiac rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: The Hula Empowering Lifestyle Adaption Study, funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, was a 5-year research trial evaluating the impact of the traditional Native Hawaiian dance form, hula, as an exercise modality for cardiac rehabilitation, compared with usual care, on individuals recently hospitalized for a cardiac event or who had recently undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. METHOD AND RESULTS: Seeking to learn what physical, mental, spiritual, and social effects the intervention may have had for participants, we interviewed 20 of a total of 35 patients who were enrolled in the dance arm of the study. Classical thematic triangulation analysis was used. Participants recognized that hula's coordination of body, mind, and spirit as a group activity deepened their appreciation of and connections to Hawaiian culture. This was true for those who were Native Hawaiian, connecting to their own cultural heritage, as well as for non-Native Hawaiians, who found that it improved their appreciation of the surrounding cultural traditions of the host culture where they now live. CONCLUSIONS: Not only was hula a safe activity that improved functional capacity, participants also regarded its significant sociocultural aspects-even for participants who are not Native Hawaiian -as enhancing its value and meaningfulness. Learning the words of well-known Hawaiian songs provided additional long-term cues that encouraged "ownership" of the therapy and acted as practical reminders of the importance of exercise and lifestyle moderation while also offering new spiritual connections to the surrounding social environment.

Experiences of Discrimination Among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders Living in the USA.

Experiences of racism and discrimination are stressors that adversely affect the well-being of marginalized populations, including Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). However, commonly used data aggregation methods obscure information on NHPI communities and their lived experiences. The aim of our study is to understand the types and frequency of discrimination experienced by NHPI adults in the USA. The study utilized online survey data collected from 252 NHPI adults living in the USA between September and October 2021. Younger NHPI adults, those who report constantly thinking about their race/ethnicity, and those who are socially assigned a race/ethnicity that does not match their own report experiencing more types of discrimination. NHPI who constantly think about their race/ethnicity and those who are socially assigned a race/ethnicity that does not match their own report a greater frequency of discrimination. Findings indicate the need to understand the experiences of discrimination in this population.

Racial Misclassification, Discrimination, Consciousness, and Self-Rated Health Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Adults in the USA.

BACKGROUND: Medical researchers have historically utilized the variable of race uncritically, rarely defining race, rarely acknowledging it as a social construct, and often omitting information about how it was measured. In this study, we use the following definition of race: "a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks." We examine the influence of racial misclassification, racial discrimination, and racial consciousness on the self-rated health of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) living in the United States of America (USA). METHODS: Our analysis used online survey data from a subgroup of NHPI adults living in the USA (n = 252) who were oversampled as part of a larger study of US adults (N = 2022). Respondents were recruited between September 7, 2021 and October 3, 2021, from an online opt-in panel of individuals across the USA. Statistical analyses include weighted and unweighted descriptive statistics for the sample, as well as a weighted logistic regression for poor/fair self-rated health. RESULTS: Odds of poor/fair self-rated health were greater for women (OR = 2.72; 95% CI [1.19, 6.21]) and those who experienced racial misclassification (OR = 2.90; 95% CI [1.20, 7.05]). No other sociodemographic, healthcare, or race-related variables were significantly associated with self-rated health in the fully adjusted results. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that racial misclassification may be an important correlate of self-rated health among NHPI adults in the US context.

Exploring Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youths' E-Cigarette Resistance Strategies: Implications for Tobacco Product Use Prevention.

This study examined the e-cigarette and vaping resistance strategies used by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) youths in rural Hawai'i. Focus groups (N = 17) were conducted in eight geographically dispersed elementary, middle/intermediate, and multilevel schools in low-income communities on Hawai'i Island. Sixty-nine youths (67% NHPI, Mage = 12.5 years) participated in this study. The resistance strategies discussed across the greatest number of groups were "refuse" (saying no), "explain" (providing reasons for vaping refusal), "avoid" (avoiding people or places where e-cigarettes were used), and "leave" (walking away from a situation where e-cigarettes were being used). Participants described the challenges in using these strategies within contexts characterized by widespread peer and family vaping and strong social demands to use e-cigarettes. The findings suggest the need for multi-level interventions based on youths' resistance strategies to meaningfully reduce youth vaping use in rural and/or NHPI communities.

The Hawai'i NHPI Data Disaggregation Imperative: Preventing Data Genocide Through Statewide Race and Ethnicity Standards.

Federal race and ethnicity data standards are commonly applied within the state of Hawai'i. When a multiracial category is used, Native Hawaiians are disproportionately affected since they are more likely than any other group to identify with an additional race or ethnicity group. These data conventions contribute to a phenomenon known as data genocide - the systematic erasure of Indigenous and marginalized peoples from population data. While data aggregation may be unintentional or due to real or perceived barriers, the obstacles to disaggregating data must be overcome to advance health equity. In this call for greater attention to relevant social determinants of health through disaggregation of race and ethnicity data, the history of data standards is reviewed, the implications of aggregation are discussed, and recommended disaggregation strategies are provided.

Ethnic differences in respiratory disease for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders: Analysis of mediation processes in two community samples.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is elevated for Native Hawaiians but the basis for this differential is not well understood. We analyze data on asthma and COPD in two samples including Native Hawaiians Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos to determine how ethnicity is related to respiratory disease outcomes. METHODS: We analyzed the 2016 and 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), a telephone survey of participants ages 18 and over in the State of Hawaii. Criterion variables were a diagnosis of asthma or COPD by a health professional. Structural equation modeling tested how five hypothesized risk factors (cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, second-hand smoke exposure, obesity, and financial stress) mediated the ethnic differential in the likelihood of disease. Age, sex, and education were included as covariates. RESULTS: Structural modeling with 2016 data showed that Native Hawaiian ethnicity was related to higher levels of the five risk factors and each risk factor was related to a higher likelihood of respiratory disease. Indirect effects were statistically significant in almost all cases, with direct effects to asthma and COPD also observed. Mediation effects through comparable pathways were also noted for Pacific Islanders and Filipinos. These findings were replicated with data from the 2018 survey. CONCLUSIONS: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ethnicity is associated with greater exposure to five risk factors and this accounts in part for the ethnic differential in respiratory disease outcomes. The results support a social-ecological model of health disparities in this population. Implications of the findings for preventive interventions are discussed.

Neighborhood level facilitators and barriers to hypertension management: A Native Hawaiian perspective.

Native Hawaiians have a disproportionately high prevalence of hypertension, which is an important and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). To reduce CVD among Native Hawaiians, we must better understand facilitators and barriers to hypertension management (i.e., diet, physical activity, stress reduction) unique to Native Hawaiians. Despite evidence of neighborhood-level facilitators and barriers to hypertension management in other populations, there is limited research in Native Hawaiians. Participants from a randomized controlled trial (n = 40) were recruited for 5 focus groups. All participants were self-reported Native Hawaiians and had uncontrolled hypertension. Discussions elicited experiences and perceptions of neighborhood-level stressors as they relate to participants' hypertension management efforts. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using ATLAS.ti for emergent themes. Five themes were identified: neighborhood description, community resources, neighborhood change, safety, and social connectedness. Novel barriers to hypertension control included loss of culture and loss of respect for elders, change in community feel, and over-development. Facilitators included social cohesion and collective power. These data provide a deeper understanding of how Native Hawaiians experience neighborhood factors and how those factors impact their efforts to improve their diets, physical activity, and stress management. The findings help to inform the development of multilevel CVD prevention programs. Further research is needed to explore the subtheme of social and emotional stress related to neighborhood change and CVD health risk due to cultural and historic trauma references.

Food Insecurity and Blood Pressure in a Multiethnic Population.

Food insecurity is a social determinant of health and is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for hypertension. Native Hawaiians bear a disproportionate burden of hypertension and known risk factors. Despite this, the relative effects of food insecurity and financial instability on blood pressure have yet to be investigated in this population. This study examines the relative effects of food insecurity and financial instability on blood pressure, controlling for potential confounders in a multiethnic sample. Participants (n = 124) were recruited from a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded study called the Children's Healthy Living Center of Excellence. Biometrics (i.e., blood pressure, weight, and height) were measured. Demographics, physical activity, diet, psychosocial variables, food insecurity, and financial instability were assessed via self-report questionnaires. Hierarchical linear regression models were conducted. Model 1, which included sociodemographic variables and known biological risk factors, explained a small but significant amount of variance in systolic blood pressure. Model 2 added physical activity and daily intake of fruit, fiber, and whole grains, significantly improving the model. Model 3 added financial instability and food insecurity, further improving the model (R2 = 0.37, F = 2.67, p = 0.031). Food insecurity, female sex, and BMI were significantly and independently associated with increased systolic blood pressure. These results suggest a direct relationship between food insecurity and systolic blood pressure, which persisted after controlling for physical activity, consumption of fruits, fiber, and whole grains, and BMI. Efforts to reduce food insecurity, particularly among Native Hawaiians, may help reduce hypertension in this high-risk population.