Grant: Pfizer Operating Grant in Disease Prevention and Management

There is compelling evidence indicating that newcomers to Canada are facing linguistic and cultural barriers in accessing health information and treatment services pertaining to chronic diseases including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Even though there is increasing evidence that culturally appropriate educational methods may positively influence medication use and lifestyle changes few community-participatory educational interventions have been developed and conducted among Canadian newcomers in issues related to chronic disease including COPD. The intent of this study is to develop and test the effectiveness of culturally appropriate COPD videos, illustrated plain language pamphlets, and other educational materials. These materials will be developed after the qualitative phase of the study has been completed. In addition we will develop an assessment tool to assess patient knowledge and beliefs with regard to COPD. This will build on our current work using the same framework in asthma. Goal: To develop and validate educational materials that aim to improve self-management knowledge and practices about COPD among patients in Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking communities in the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA). Objectives: 1. To assess the current landscape of COPD beliefs, perceptions and practices, as well as health literacy as it relates to Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking patients, 2. To develop effective multidisciplinary partnerships within primary care settings serving newcomers in GVA and to identify common factors that contribute to under service and access barriers among patients in target communities, 3. To assess the effectiveness of the educational materials on patients beliefs, perceptions, practices, and health literacy related to COPD control and self-management, and 4. To improve the capacity of physicians and allied health workers in primary care settings in educating patients and their families about the management of COPD.