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McElfish PA, Rowland B, Hall S, CarlLee S, Reece S, Macechko MD, Shah SK, Rojo MO, Riklon S, Richard-Davis G, Marin LP, Laelan M, Maddison BK, Alik E, Selig JP. Comparing community-driven COVID-19 vaccine distribution methods: Faith-based organizations vs. outpatient clinics. J Family Med Prim Care 2022; 11:6081-6086. [PMID: 36618221 PMCID: PMC9810872 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_327_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Minority and low socioeconomic communities may face practical barriers to vaccination, including decreased access to health care and less trust in healthcare organizations; however, few studies have focused on these barriers as the cause of differential vaccine uptake. We worked with community partners to implement and evaluate two community-driven approaches to COVID-19 vaccination distribution-through faith-based organizations (FBOs) and outpatient clinics-with a focus on understanding the differences between the populations who accessed each distribution method. Methodology Participants who came to the vaccination locations were approached and asked to complete a survey during their 15 min post-vaccination observation period. Differences between distribution locations were examined using Chi-square tests. Results The survey rendered 1,476 valid responses, with a total of 927 participants recruited at clinical locations and 519 at FBOs during vaccination events. There were significant differences by race/ethnicity, with distribution methods at FBOs reaching a higher proportion of Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese participants. The proportion of uninsured participants who had lower health literacy and had lower educational attainment was higher with the FBO distribution method. FBO participants were more likely to report "completely" trusting the COVID-19 vaccine. There was no significant difference between FBO and clinic participants with regard to the level of vaccine hesitancy. There were no statistically significant differences with regard to access. Conclusion A higher proportion of Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese participants utilized FBOs for vaccination, suggesting collaborations with FBOs can potentially increase vaccination uptake among minority communities and help mitigate vaccination disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl A. McElfish
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA,Address for correspondence: Dr. Pearl A. McElfish, 1125 N. College Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72703, USA. E-mail:
| | - Brett Rowland
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Spencer Hall
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Sheena CarlLee
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Sharon Reece
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Michael D. Macechko
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Sumit K. Shah
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Martha O. Rojo
- College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Sheldon Riklon
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Gloria Richard-Davis
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Luis Paganelli Marin
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Melisa Laelan
- Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, Springdale, Arkansas, USA
| | | | - Eldon Alik
- Republic of the Marshall Islands Consulate, Springdale, Arkansas, USA
| | - James P. Selig
- Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, Arkansas
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McElfish PA, Willis DE, Bogulski C, Kelen M, Riklon S, Alik E, Laelan M, Brown AL, Sinclair KA, Andersen JA, Amick BC, Williams M. COVID-19 Vaccine Willingness and Hesitancy Among Marshallese Pacific Islanders. J Patient Exp 2021; 8:23743735211056428. [PMID: 34825050 PMCID: PMC8609098 DOI: 10.1177/23743735211056428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has disproportionally burdened racial and ethnic minorities. Minority populations report greater COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy; however, no studies document COVID-19 vaccine willingness among Marshallese or any Pacific Islander group, who are often underrepresented in research. This study documents United States (US) Marshallese Pacific Islanders': willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine, willingness to participate in vaccine trials, and sociodemographic factors associated with willingness. From July 27, 2020-November 22, 2020, a convenience sample of US Marshallese adults were recruited through e-mail, phone calls, and a Marshallese community Facebook page to participate in an online survey. Of those surveyed (n = 120), 32.5% were extremely likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine; 20.8% were somewhat likely; 14.2% were unlikely or very unlikely; and 26.7% stated they did not know or were not sure. Only 16.7% stated they were willing to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine trial. Vaccine willingness was positively associated with older age, higher income, and longer US residence. Health insurance status and having a primary care provider were positively associated with vaccine willingness. Findings demonstrate within-group variation in COVID-19 vaccine willingness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl A. McElfish
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Don E. Willis
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Cari Bogulski
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Meetu Kelen
- West Hawaii Community Health
Center, Kailua, HI, USA
| | - Sheldon Riklon
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Eldon Alik
- Consul General – Arkansas, Republic of the Marshall Islands,
Springdale, AR, USA
| | - Melisa Laelan
- Arkansas Coalition of
Marshallese, Springdale, AR, USA
| | | | - Ka’imi A. Sinclair
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health
(IREACH), Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
- College of Nursing, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Andersen
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Benjamin C. Amick
- Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Mark Williams
- Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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Abstract
CONTEXT Arkansas currently has the largest Marshallese community in the continental US. The limited research available demonstrates that Marshallese have significant health disparities, with higher rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and infectious diseases than the US population. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this paper is 2-fold: (1) to describe the formation and capacity building efforts of a community-based participatory research partnership with the Marshallese community in Arkansas and (2) to describe key findings and lessons learned from 5 years of collaborative research. METHODS A community-based participatory research approach was implemented to build alliances and improve health disparities in a Marshallese community. RESULTS Overarching lessons learned from collaboration with the Marshallese community include the: (1) Intensive involvement of Marshallese from multiple sectors of the community and in multiple roles in the research process, (2) Importance of interprofessional teams, (3) Importance of church, (4) Consideration of sex, (5) Importance of family and definition of family, (6) Talk Story and qualitative methods and the (7) Importance of cultural humility. CONCLUSIONS This research helps fill important gaps in documenting the health disparities and interventions to address those disparities in the Marshallese community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl A McElfish
- a Office of Community Health and Research , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Campus , Fayetteville , AR , USA
| | - Ramey Moore
- b Department of Anthropology , University of Arkansas , Fayetteville , AR , USA
| | - Melisa Laelan
- c Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese , Springdale , AR , USA
| | - Britni L Ayers
- a Office of Community Health and Research , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Campus , Fayetteville , AR , USA
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McElfish PA, Long CR, Kaholokula JK, Aitaoto N, Bursac Z, Capelle L, Laelan M, Bing WI, Riklon S, Rowland B, Ayers BL, Wilmoth RO, Langston KN, Schootman M, Selig JP, Yeary KHCK. Design of a comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial testing a faith-based Diabetes Prevention Program (WORD DPP) vs. a Pacific culturally adapted Diabetes Prevention Program (PILI DPP) for Marshallese in the United States. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e0677. [PMID: 29742712 PMCID: PMC5959435 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000010677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pacific Islander populations, including Marshallese, face a disproportionately high burden of health disparities relative to the general population. OBJECTIVES A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was utilized to engage Marshallese participants in a comparative effectiveness trial testing 2 Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) interventions designed to reduce participant's weight, lower HbA1c, encourage healthy eating, and increase physical activity. DESIGN To compare the effectiveness of the faith-based (WORD) DPP to the culturally adapted (Pacific Culturally Adapted Diabetes Prevention Program [PILI]) DPP, a clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 384 Marshallese participants will be implemented in 32 churches located in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Churches will be randomly assigned to WORD DPP arm or to PILI DPP arm. METHODS WORD DPP focuses on connecting faith and health to attain a healthy weight, eat healthy, and be more physically active. In contrast, PILI DPP is a family and community focused DPP curriculum specifically adapted for implementation in Pacific Islander communities. PILI focuses on engaging social support networks to maintain a healthy weight, eat healthy, and be more physically active. All participants are assessed at baseline, immediate post intervention, and 12 months post intervention. SUMMARY Both interventions aim to cause weight loss through improving physical activity and healthy eating, with the goal of preventing the development of T2D. The clustered RCT will determine which intervention is most effective with the Marshallese population. The utilization of a CBPR approach that involves local stakeholders and engages faith-based institutions in Marshallese communities will increase the potential for success and sustainability. This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03270436).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl Anna McElfish
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sci10-1ences Northwest, 1125 N. College Avenue, Fayetteville, AR
| | - Christopher R. Long
- College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sci10-1ences Northwest, 1125 N. College Avenue, Fayetteville, AR
| | | | - Nia Aitaoto
- Center for Pacific Islander Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville
| | - Zoran Bursac
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, TN
| | - Lucy Capelle
- Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, Springdale, AR
| | | | - Williamina Ioanna Bing
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville
| | - Sheldon Riklon
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville
| | - Brett Rowland
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville
| | - Britni L. Ayers
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville
| | - Ralph O. Wilmoth
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville
| | - Krista N. Langston
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville
| | - Mario Schootman
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO; Department of Biostatistics
| | - James P. Selig
- College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
| | - Karen Hye-cheon Kim Yeary
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
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