Field Placement: California Department of Health Services -- Cancer Control Branch, The Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section (CPNS)
Location: Sacramento, CA
Preceptor: Carole Pirruccello, MPH, RD
Student Name: Dipa Shah
Year: 2002

Formative Research on Dietary and Physical Activity Patterns of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

The Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section (CPNS) is under the Cancer Control Branch of the California Department of Health Services. The Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section seeks to enable low-income Californians adopt healthy eating and physical activity patterns as part of a healthy lifestyle. With the California 5 a Day campaign, CPNS works to increase Californian's consumption of fruits and vegetables to 5 or more daily servings, increase physical activity to at least 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes for children, and achieve full participation in Federal food assistance programs.

Currently, there are no existing nutrition and physical activity interventions that specifically target Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). This is problematic because cancer in AAPIs is rising at alarming rates. Cancer is now the leading cause of death among Asian females and the leading cause of death for AAPI males ages 45-74. One-third of annual cancer deaths are due to preventable factors, particularly poor diet and exercise. To date, the dietary and physical activity patterns of AAPIs are currently not known because they are not being monitored.

As an intern at CPNS, I worked on formative research on AAPI dietary and physical activity patterns to provide CPNS with a better understanding of the significance of the problem. I conducted a literature search on dietary and physical activity patterns of AAPIs and organized the information in a table where quick references on statistics can be easily accessed. I also identified key informants that work closely with the AAPI population and can provide insight on AAPI dietary and physical activity patterns. In addition, I developed an interview protocol to identify factors that influence dietary and physical activity behaviors. This protocol was used during the interviews I conducted and will also be used in future formative research as well. Finally, a summary report focusing on the determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity was completed. This document included a problem statement, description of the target population, background on past studies, methods, results, and discussion section. This paper will help make the case to DHS that AAPIs are in need of interventions that focus on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity.

Working at the California Department of Health Services was a wonderful experience for me. I recommend working for the California Department of Health Services to future interns!

Back to CHS Field Studies Placement Index | Back to CHS Field Studies | Back to Field Studies Home