A systematic narrative review of health interventions targeting Asian American and Pacific Islanders

This study systematically analyzes 116 health intervention studies targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) published from January 1, 1985, to September 9, 2022, identified through Academic Search Complete and PubMed. The analysis reviews participants’ demographics, health topics, study design, formative research, process evaluation, delivery formats, theoretical guidance, cultural tailoring, and intervention effects. Most studies were conducted in California, New York City, or the Maryland-Washington DC area, focusing on smoking cessation, colorectal cancer screening, liver health, breast cancer, diabetes, and mental health. Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese populations were most studied. Of the 116 studies, 51 used randomized controlled trials, 22 used quasi-experimental designs, and 43 used intervention group-only designs. Formative research was conducted in 89.7% of studies, but only 25.6% included process evaluations. Traditional delivery methods dominated, with in-person sessions (75%) and printed materials (51.7%), while digital media (12.1%) and telecommunications (26.7%) were underused. Theories guided 69% of the studies, with the Community-based Participatory Research Framework, Transtheoretical Model, and Social Cognitive Theory being the most common. Cultural tailoring was used in 81.9% of studies. Significant behavior changes were reported in 53%, with others improving knowledge (44.8%) or addressing stigma/attitudes/beliefs (16.4%) and symptoms (15.5%). However, 13.7% of studies showed no significant outcome changes. These findings highlight the need for better-designed, rigorous interventions for AAPI.