Changing AAPI Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Toward COVID-19 Pandemic in Pima County

Background: COVID-19 had significantly impacted on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations in Pima County. The Arizona and COVID-19 Update Articles (ACUA) were established to provide the latest COVID-19 information, to encourage preventive health behaviors, and to reduce the anxiety levels associated with the virus. The ACUA used the Health Belief Model as its framework. The articles addressed two of three World Health Organization dimensions of health (physical and mental). There had been 24 issues published. After two-year, an assessment was conducted to determine whether there was still a need for the articles and their impacts.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A KAP survey was used to collect information on knowledge gain, information usefulness, attitude/belief changes, behavior changes, and anxiety reduction. A convenience sample of AAPI leaders, community members, and health professionals was used.

Results: The ACUA increased knowledge in all five areas examined. Of the five areas, more than 75 percent of the respondents indicated the knowledge gained were useful in four areas. Of the respondents, 96 percent practice preventive COVID health behaviors regularly and 80 percent were fully vaccinated for COVID and gotten their boosters.

Conclusion: Three-quarter of the respondents indicated that the articles are still useful and needed. The Health Belief Model was an effective framework used in the ACUA to accomplish its health promotional goals. This health educational approach could be used in minority and underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract