Improving Latino disaster preparedness using social networks.
BACKGROUND
Culturally targeted, informal social networking approaches to improving disaster preparedness have not been empirically tested.


OBJECTIVE
In partnership with community health promoters and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, this study tested a disaster preparedness program for Latino households.


METHODS
This study had a community-based, randomized, longitudinal cohort design with two groups and was conducted during February-October 2007. Assessments were made at baseline and 3 months. Analyses were carried out January-October 2008.


METHODS
Community-based study of 231 Latinos living in Los Angeles County.


METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to attending platicas (small-group discussions led by a health promoter/promotora de salud) or receiving "media" (a culturally tailored mailer). A total of 187 (81.0%) completed the 3-month follow-up.


METHODS
A self-reported disaster preparedness checklist was used.


RESULTS
Among participants who did not have emergency water pre-intervention, 93.3% of those in the platica arm had it at follow-up, compared to 66.7% in the media arm (p=0.003). Among participants who did not have food pre-intervention, 91.7% in the platica arm reported it at follow-up, compared to 60.6% in the media arm (p=0.013). Finally, among participants who did not have a family communication plan pre-intervention, 70.4% in the platica arm reported one at follow-up, compared to 42.3% in the media arm (p=0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Although both arms improved in stockpiling water and food and creating a communication plan, the platica arm showed greater improvement than the media group.
Eisenman
David P
DP
Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095-1736, USA. deisenman@mednet.ucla.edu
Glik
Deborah
D
Gonzalez
Lupe
L
Maranon
Richard
R
Zhou
Qiong
Q
Tseng
Chi-Hong
CH
Asch
Steven M
SM
D000328:Adult; D057189:Checklist; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support