Coming from a family of immigrants, Crystal Doan has a deep interest in healthcare disparities. A second-year medical student, she worked over the summer with Namratha Kandula, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine, to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors in the Southeast Asian population in the Devon neighborhood of Chicago. An expert in Asian American health, cross-cultural communication, and health promotion for minority communities, Kandula directs a research program that develops, implements, and evaluates literacy and behavioral interventions targeted at cardiovascular risk reduction in minority populations.
Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the two-year community-based research project tests the effectiveness of interventions to increase cardiovascular health. Interventions include health education sessions, support counseling, and melas, or gatherings where participants bring family members to participate in fun, healthy activities.
“I am interested in the correlation between exercise confidence and the amount of physical activity they actually achieve,” Doan said. “I also have an interest in patient education and health literacy, so I will be looking at knowledge and perceptions of cardiovascular health at the baseline compared to three months and six months.”
Through the program, the research team hopes to observe an increase in moderate or vigorous activity and in the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. To measure outcomes, the participants carry devices that track their activity levels. Participants also have nutritional analyses, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol tests performed at assessment points.
“The risk factors in this community differ from other minority groups because of cultural and diet differences,” said Doan. “The Southeast Asian population is three times more likely to be at an increased risk for heart disease and is the second fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S., so there is a huge need to understand the risk factors and prevention strategies in this population.”
A unique aspect to this project is the large role the community plays in it. An advisory board plans and implements the activities and all of the research happens outside of the Northwestern campus.
“Our group has done a lot of work to bridge the gap between research and community,” said Yasin Patel, project coordinator. “I think the melas are a good place to see that in action. At the melas, you see participants with their families and the engagement that happens in the community. Promoting physical activity and dietary changes can be a whole family experience rather than an individual endeavor.”
At the “Heart Healthy Mela” in June, Doan and the research team encouraged families to join in aerobics, games, and exercise with music in addition to having a healthy South Asian cooking demonstration.
The group is planning for the third Heart Health Mela in September, which will feature a yoga demonstration and a healthy grain dish competition.
“My experience with Dr. Kandula’s team has been a fantastic avenue for training in community-based participatory research,” said Doan. “I am gaining a deeper understanding of the health needs of the South Asian population and successful strategies for working with the community to promote health with cultural humility.”