Approaches to Filipino American Community Engagement in Prevention Research: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The topic of this scoping review is the use of targeted engagement methods to engage Filipino Americans (FAs) in prevention research studies. FAs are the third largest Asian subgroup in the United States. Given the historical relationship between the Philippines and United States, FAs are often under-represented in research and are hard to reach due to factors such as cultural mistrust, linguistic mismatch, and unfamiliarity with research. This scoping review synthesized findings across 11 studies which met the criteria for inclusion. Studies were included if they demonstrated engagement methods with FA communities, applied participatory action research methods, cultural adaptations, and/or stakeholder consultation. Studies were excluded if engagement was not identified as a focus, did not involve stakeholders in recruitment, were simply published as extensions of earlier studies, conducted outside of the United States, or not in English. Studies reviewed represent a range of research designs, including randomized controlled trials, intervention adapted research, needs assessments, semi-structured interviews, qualitative studies, program evaluation research, and community-based participatory research. Findings identified a range of methods and strategies for engaging FA in research. Integration of cultural values, recruiting from cultural sites and use of bilingual staff and moderators were most often utilized. In addition, this review highlighted barriers to engagement and strategies to address them. Using culturally congruent engagement strategies will aid researchers in building trust and encourage participation.