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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the following questions: 1) Do refugees and non-refugees differ in self-rated health? 2) Do refugees and non-refugees differ in cancer risk awareness? and 3) Are lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity participation, and weight status risk or protective factors of cancer risk awareness? METHODS: A self-administered or interviewer-administered survey were collected from adults with a refugee background from spring to fall in 2017 in Salt Lake County, Utah. Free clinic data (a non-refugee comparison group) were collected using a self-administered survey from May to June in 2017 from a free clinic in Salt Lake County, Utah. RESULTS: Refugees reported better self-rated health and were less likely to be obese/overweight, have family history of cancer, and have healthy diet. Refugees reported lower levels of cancer risk awareness than free clinic non-refugee patients. Having a healthy diet was associated with higher levels of cancer risk awareness. CONCLUSION: Future studies should examine cultural differences related to cancer risk awareness among refugee populations.

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BACKGROUND: Immigration stress includes acculturation stress and the stress related to language barriers, discrimination, occupational challenges, and feelings of isolation from society and a sense of newness or loss. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine immigration stress among refugees resettled in the United States. METHODS: A self-administered or interviewer-administered survey was collected from individuals with a refugee background in Utah from summer through fall in 2017 (N = 190). RESULTS: Older age was associated with higher levels of financial stress and homesickness. Poorer levels of self-rated health and fewer somatic symptoms were related to higher levels of homesickness and language barriers. Higher educational attainment was associated with higher levels of financial stress. CONCLUSION: Refugees are a vulnerable population due to being displaced to a foreign country and having to quickly learn a new language and different culture. It is imperative to gain more knowledge on diverse refugee groups and ways in which they can maintain optimum quality of life through and after the resettlement process.

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The annual number of opioid prescriptions for pain relief has been increasing in the United States. This increase has raised concerns about prescription opioid abuse and overdose. The purpose of this study was to examine opioid risks (risk factors that increase the chance of opioid abuse) among uninsured primary care patients utilizing a free clinic. Data were collected using a self-administered paper survey in the waiting room of the free clinic from May to July 2017 (N = 506). Higher levels of somatic symptoms were associated with higher levels of opioid risks. U.S.-born English speakers had higher levels of opioid risk than non-U.S.-born English speakers and Spanish speakers. Being employed was associated with higher levels of opioid risk while attending college or being postcollegiate was related to lower levels of opioid risk. Research surrounding best practices, prescription trends, and population risk is vital in driving health and social policy. Further research would benefit from examining where people are obtaining opioids. In addition, further research on opioid abuse among Hispanic populations would be beneficial. Finally, future studies should examine how prescribing practices are different among free clinic health professionals in comparison to health care professionals working in-patient or at for-profit clinics.

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The global burden of mental health disorders is a significant public health issue. One population that has a risk for mental health issues is college students. Little is known about perceptions of mental illness and mental health services among college students in Vietnam. The purpose of this study is to describe perceptions of mental illness and mental health services among college students in Vietnam, and to compare them with those in the United States (US). The cross-sectional data were collected using a self-administered survey from January to March in 2018 at a national university in Vietnam, and a state university in the US. The study revealed differences in perceptions of causes of mental health between Vietnamese and US participants. Vietnamese participants tended to believe that individuals with mental illness were dangerous and need to be kept out from the community, while US participants perceived that mental illnesses are the same as other illnesses. An important indicator of Vietnamese perceptions of mental health was the low likelihood of seeking formal help because of preference for seeking help from family or friends for mental illness. Interventions, such as mental health awareness campaigns or training courses should be provided for college students in Vietnam. Some strategies to improve mental health among college students used in the US may help to reduce stigma toward mental illness in Vietnam.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the health and well-being of women migrating from predominantly Muslim countries to the U.S. Women from predominantly Muslim countries completed a paper survey on the following topics from June to December in 2016 (N=102): depression; physical functioning; self-reported general health; experiences with health care; and demographic characteristics. There were several women's health-related issues: low rates for mammography and Pap smear screening, and preference for female physicians and/or physicians from the same culture. Only one-third of the participants had received a physical exam in the past year, and having done so was related to higher levels of depression and worse physical functioning. The participants who were not in a refugee camp reported higher levels of depression than those who were.

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OBJECTIVES: Smoking is a significant public health issue in Bangladesh. The purpose of this study was to examine peer smoking and smoking-related beliefs among college students in Bangladesh. METHODS: College students at two universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh participated in a self-administered survey in May and June 2017. RESULTS: First, being a current or former smoker is associated with lower levels of beliefs among respondents that they would not smoke even with smoker friends or nervousness, and lower levels of intentions that they would not smoke, while current smokers and former smokers have different smoking-related beliefs. Second, having smoker friends is associated with lower levels of intentions that they would not smoke. Third, higher levels of normative beliefs that it is important not to smoke are associated with higher levels of beliefs that they would not smoke even with smoker friends or nervousness, higher levels of intentions that they would not smoke, and higher levels of avoidance of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking-related beliefs and perceived norms in individuals' social networks are important components in promoting tobacco cessation in Bangladesh. But it is challenging to prevent or intervene in smoking because of the high rates of smoking in this country and the high prevalence of smokers in individuals' social networks. Future studies should examine the most effective interventions to combat smoking in high-smoking social networks, such as using mobile apps or social media, and evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions.

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INTRODUCTION: Nonfinancial barriers are frequent causes of unmet need in health-care services. The significance of transportation barriers can weigh more than the issues of access to care. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine transportation and other nonfinancial barriers among low-income uninsured patients of a safety net health-care facility (free clinic). METHODS: The survey data were collected from patients aged 18 years and older who spoke English or Spanish at a free clinic, which served uninsured individuals in poverty in the United States. RESULTS: Levels of transportation barriers were associated with levels of other nonfinancial barriers. Higher levels of nonfinancial barriers were associated with elevation in levels of stress and poorer self-rated general health. Higher educational attainment and employment were associated with an increase in other nonfinancial barriers. CONCLUSION: Focusing only on medical interventions might not be sufficient for the well-being of the underserved populations. Future studies should examine integrative care programs that include medical treatment and social services together and evaluate such programs to improve care for underserved populations.

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OBJECTIVES: Refugees resettled in the US may be at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, little is known about CVD-related issues among Karen refugees who have migrated to the US from the Thai-Myanmar border. The purpose of this study was to examine CVD-related health beliefs and lifestyle issues among Karen refugees resettled in the US. METHODS: Karen refugees resettled in the US from the Thai-Myanmar border (n=195) participated in a survey study on health beliefs related to CVD, salt intake, physical activity (PA), and smoking in the fall of 2016. RESULTS: A high-salt diet, physical inactivity, and smoking were major lifestyle problems. Participants who adhered to a low-salt diet considered themselves to be susceptible to CVD. Most participants did not engage in regular PA. Regular PA was associated with less perceived susceptibility to CVD and greater perceived benefits of a healthy lifestyle for decreasing the likelihood of CVD. CONCLUSIONS: Each refugee population may require individualized strategies to promote PA and a healthy diet. Future studies should develop health education programs that are specifically designed for Karen refugees and evaluate such programs. In addition to health education programs on healthy lifestyle choices, tobacco cessation programs seem to be necessary for Karen refugees. At the same time, it is important to foster strategies to increase the utilization of preventive care among this population by promoting free or reduced-fee resources in the community to further promote their health.

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