Beliefs about promoting cognitive health among Filipino Americans who care for persons with dementia.
We examined beliefs about promoting cognitive health among Filipino Americans who care for persons with dementia, their awareness of media information about cognitive health, and their suggestions for communicating such information to other caregivers. We conducted three focus groups (25 participants). The constant comparison method compared themes across focus groups. Caregivers most frequently described cognitive health benefits of social engagement and leisure; next in emphasis were benefits of healthy diets. There was less emphasis on physical activity. Participants had heard from television that avoiding smoking, alcohol, and drugs might promote cognitive health. Ways to inform others about cognitive health included information in Filipino newspapers, and handouts in Filipino languages, distributed in Filipino stores, workplaces, community organizations, and health care facilities. Findings suggest an opportunity to develop public health messages promoting cognitive health that are in-language, published in ethnic-specific media, and that are culturally appropriate for Filipino and other Asian Americans.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Public Health Sciences, NC 28223, USA. sladitka@uncc.edu
Sarah B
SB
Laditka
Winston
W
Tseng
Anna E
AE
Price
Susan L
SL
Ivey
Daniela B
DB
Friedman
Rui
R
Liu
Bel
B
Wu
Rebecca G
RG
Logsdon
Renée L
RL
Beard
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001213:Asian; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003469:Culture; D003704:Dementia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology