Insights From Immigrant and Refugee Communities Regarding COVID-19 Needs and Opportunities: A Mixed Methods Study
Nicole A. Stadnick, PhD, MPH,
Kelli L. Cain, MA,
William T. Oswald, PhD,
Paul L. Watson, Jr., MSHS,
Jesse Nodora, DrPH,
Shelia L. Broyles, PhD, MPH,
Angel A. Lomeli, BS,
Arleth A. Escoto,
Marina Ibarra,
Raphael Lagoc, BS,
Borsika A. Rabin, PhD, MPH, PharmD
Affiliations
Nicole A. Stadnick, PhD, MPH
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Dissemination & Implementation Science Center (DISC), Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Child & Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC), Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Address correspondence to: Nicole A. Stadnick, PhD, MPH, Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla CA 92093.
Kelli L. Cain, MA
The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
William T. Oswald, PhD
The Global Action Research Center, San Diego, California
Paul L. Watson, Jr., MSHS
The Global Action Research Center, San Diego, California
Jesse Nodora, DrPH
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Dissemination & Implementation Science Center (DISC), Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Child & Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC), Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; The Global Action Research Center, San Diego, California; Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Shelia L. Broyles, PhD, MPH
Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Angel A. Lomeli, BS
The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Arleth A. Escoto
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Marina Ibarra
The Global Action Research Center, San Diego, California
Raphael Lagoc, BS
The Global Action Research Center, San Diego, California
Borsika A. Rabin, PhD, MPH, PharmD
Dissemination & Implementation Science Center (DISC), Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Introduction: This mixed-methods study describes processes to actively engage underserved, immigrant, and refugee communities in COVID-19 vaccine efforts to cocreate culturally relevant resources and dissemination. Methods: A survey on healthcare characteristics and COVID-19 attitudes was deployed between March and November 2021 followed by listening sessions conducted in December 2021. All participants were recruited through the project's Community Advisory Board. The survey, completed by 77 adults, was available in English, Spanish, Burmese, Kizigua, and Karen. Listening sessions were led by trained, multilingual, and multicultural interviewers. Results: Doctors/healthcare providers were rated as the most trusted messengers of COVID-19 information; however, trusted sources varied across communities. Data from 3 listening sessions (with a total of 14 participants) expanded survey findings with a focus on trusted sources of COVID-19 communication. Conclusions: This study confirmed the importance of healthcare professionals as trusted messengers for COVID-19 information among underserved communities. Qualitative data highlighted the importance of schools, ethnically based community organizations, and friends/family with health and English literacy skills for immigrant and refugee communities. Findings suggest opportunities for collaboration with specific trusted sources for future public health dissemination efforts.
