Are Multidisciplinary Culturally Sensitive Community-Based Health Fairs Effective in the Underserved Vietnamese Americans?

The Vietnamese-American ethnic group has the fastest growth rates and the lowest health insurance coverage. A yearly program of multidisciplinary health fair was organized for the third largest Vietnamese communities in the United States. This comprehensive program has proven effective by identifying the needs of the underserved population and maximizing the benefits of a culturally sensitive tailored service. Volunteered healthcare providers performed preventative screenings, vaccinations, and health promotion education in multiple services. The educational program had two 50-minute sessions, including topics from chronic cardiovascular conditions to the most prevalent cancer. With a 46% return rate, a 15- item Likert-scale evaluation form reported 80% overall satisfaction with the program's effectiveness. Some participants indicated they used these health fairs as annual health checkups due to a lack of care access and language barriers. The patterns and setup of these health fairs can be generalized to other cities and countries around the globe. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Tuong Vi Ho)