0307 Improving Sleep Literacy and Awareness in Asian Americans Through Culturally-Tailored Educational Materials

Abstract Introduction Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the US, yet they face significant and under-recognized sleep health disparities, such as shorter sleep duration and underdiagnosis of sleep apnea. Culturally and linguistically appropriate sleep health education is an essential tool to address such disparities. We aim to develop, evaluate, and disseminate culturally and linguistically tailored sleep health educational materials for Asian American communities. Methods Materials will initially be tailored for Chinese Americans and later adapted for other Asian groups. First, we will translate and culturally-tailor existing sleep health educational materials for three groups: (1) sleep hygiene education and sleep disorders screening tools for Asian American community members; (2) AASM patient guides for Asian American patients with sleep disorders; (3) knowledge about differential presentations of sleep disorders in Asians for healthcare providers who serve Asian American patients. Adaptations will consider culturally relevant factors and practices, such as napping practices and differential somatic symptom presentations of insomnia in Asians. Second, we will evaluate the clarity and cultural relevance of the initial materials by conducting focus groups (n=10 from each group; n=30 total). Third, we will recruit a pilot group (n=20 from each group; n=60 total) to assess the effectiveness of these materials in improving sleep health knowledge and attitudes. Final materials will be disseminated via community health centers and institutional websites. Results We anticipate that the culturally and linguistically adapted materials will be perceived as useful and relevant by the target populations. We also expect that these materials will lead to significant improvements in sleep literacy among community members, as well as better understanding of sleep disorders and treatment options among patients with sleep disorders. Moreover, we expect that the provider-facing materials will enhance providers’ cultural competency regarding the unique presentations of sleep disorders in Asians. Conclusion This project will generate accessible and scalable resources to address the specific sleep health challenges faced by Asian Americans. The validated materials will also establish a foundation for future adaptations for other Asian American and minority communities, thereby improving sleep health literacy, access to sleep care, and sleep health equity. Support (if any) AASM Community Sleep Health and Public Awareness Grant