Asian American Health Disparities: What to Know, Including 4 Ways Providers Can Help
Key takeaways:
The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) population is at higher risk for many health conditions than other groups.
Lack of preventative healthcare, stereotypes, and cultural barriers play a big role in the health disparities that affect the members of this population.
There are many ways healthcare providers can help tackle these disparities, including by recognizing personal bias, recommending ways to save on medications and other healthcare costs, and volunteering at health fairs.
Health disparities that affect members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander population — or the AANHPI population for short — are largely a product of socioeconomic and cultural barriers. Here’s a look at some of these disparities and what role healthcare providers can play in closing the gaps.
What are some of the disparities Asian Americans face in regards to healthcare?
Nearly 26 million people in the U.S. identify as a member of the AANHPI community, based on the latest census data. However, in response to a survey given to over 1,600 Asian American participants, nearly 2 in 3 people reported not having a primary care provider. This can put people at higher risk for certain health conditions, as we’ll cover below.
Factors like racial bias, socioeconomic and health literacy status, and cultural barriers also contribute to health disparities that affect members of the AANHPI population. We take a closer look at these factors below.
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Higher risks, lower screening rates
According to research, members of the AANHPI population are at a higher risk for certain medical conditions, as well as for having lower screening rates for some conditions. Some examples of this are below:
Asian Americans are two times more likely than white Americans to develop chronic hepatitis B, which increases a person’s risk for cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.
Asian Americans are twice as likely to have undiagnosed diabetes compared to members of other racial groups. And Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders are also disproportionately affected by diabetes.
While cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the AANHPI community, this demographic has screening rates for cancer that are among the lowest, compared to the general population.
Detrimental stereotypes
In the past, Asian Americans have been labeled a “model minority,” meaning that they are seen as being far more educated, hardworking, and financially successful than other minority groups. This has led many people to believe that Asian Americans as a whole tend to belong to a higher socioeconomic class, as well as to make assumptions about health literacy and needs.
These beliefs and inherent racial bias can affect how healthcare providers diagnose and treat Asian Americans and other members of the AANHPI community. And this, in turn, can affect the quality of care AANHPI people receive.
Debunking the model minority myth in healthcare
Contrary to the model minority myth, the AANHPI population is diverse and includes people from a variety of economic backgrounds. According to a Pew Research Center analysis of 19 Asian origin groups in the U.S., the majority of these groups (12 of 19) had poverty rates as high or higher than the national average in 2019. Among these groups, Mongolians had the highest poverty rate at 25%.
Among these subgroups, insurance status can differ significantly, as well. In another assessment of Asian subgroups in the U.S., Southeast Asians had the highest rates of being uninsured, with 9.6% of Thai people being uninsured, followed by 8.3% of Vietnamese people.
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In addition to disparities in income and insurance status, the AANHPI community is affected by low levels of health literacy. In the survey mentioned earlier in this article, 14% of participants said they did not feel the need to have a primary care provider, which can be seen as a product of low health literacy. For example, some research has found an association between having limited health knowledge and being less likely to seek out medical care.
Cultural and language barriers
Cultural barriers can play a significant role in health disparities. For example, people who identify as AANHPI tend to favor Eastern medicine approaches and techniques, such as:
Traditional Chinese medicine
Acupuncture
Reiki
Huna, or Native Hawaiian healing
Herbal medicine
Ayurvedic medicine
Negative experiences with Western medicine and healthcare providers — or a general fear of medications and their side effects — can also create medical mistrust and discourage people from sticking to treatments (adherence). In turn, this can lead to worse health outcomes.
Language barriers also contribute to health disparities that affect the AANHPI community. Being able to communicate with health professionals helps people understand the importance of seeking out medical care for health conditions. Approximately 31% of Asian Americans are not fluent in English, which can make this kind of communication difficult.
What can healthcare providers do to help?
Healthcare providers and pharmacists can play a significant part in helping improve disparities that affect the AANHPI population. Below, we discuss four ways health professionals can help.
1. Help people find ways to save on medications
Healthcare providers and pharmacists can help members of the AANHPI community who face financial challenges accessing their medications by:
Prescribing the most cost-effective medications
Assisting those who have limited access to transportation with getting their medications delivered to the home
Using GoodRx to find coupons that make medications more affordable
Helping people navigate patient assistance programs or government programs that help with the cost of medications and medical care.
2. Partner with other healthcare providers to offer medication education
It’s important for pharmacists and healthcare providers to work together to help AANHPI patients who may struggle with health literacy related to their medications. Pharmacists can make use of interpreter services, which can help relay information to patients who are not fluent in English, helping them make more informed decisions. And by collaborating with a healthcare team, pharmacists can spend more time counseling, educating, and tailoring treatment plans that display cultural competency.
A recent case study outlined the advantages of pharmacists collaborating with other healthcare providers in underserved areas. According to the study, some beneficial practices pharmacists can incorporate are:
Completing comprehensive medication reviews
Helping uninsured people assess their eligibility for health insurance or patient assistance programs
Emphasizing the importance of screening, early detection, and medication adherence, which helps combat health disparities
Another benefit of this type of collaboration for other healthcare providers is that pharmacists are equipped with knowledge of pharmacogenomics, or how well medications may work for people based on their genes. An analysis of FDA and the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium data found that Asian populations, in general, metabolize certain medications poorly. This trait affects common prescriptions, such as:
Antidepressants
In partnership with other healthcare providers, pharmacists can counsel people from the AANHPI community on what medication side effects to look out for and provide recommendations when necessary.
3. Volunteer at community clinics
Volunteering at health fairs or clinics that focus on AANHPI individuals can have a positive impact on the community, by promoting health and wellness and improving access to care.
Pharmacists and other healthcare providers can make an impact at health fairs by:
Providing education about taking medication
Promoting self-care practices
Offering counseling around stopping tobacco use
Administering vaccinations
Providing wellness screenings
Having all these health services in one place makes healthcare more accessible for attendees who may not have health insurance, financial resources for medical visits, or a way to easily get to pharmacies or medical offices.
If you’re a healthcare provider interested in volunteering at a local health fair or community clinic, reach out to an AANHPI community organization, your local medical or pharmacy school, or a professional association that offers volunteer opportunities.
4. Unlearn personal biases
As human beings, we all have biases. And while eliminating them entirely may not be realistic, taking steps to curb them can lead to better provider-patient relationships and promote better health outcomes for marginalized communities, including AANHPI people.
Some examples on how you can address bias as a healthcare provider include:
Becoming aware of your own biases
Adopting a beginner’s mindset and approaching each patient interaction with neutrality
Making people feel heard and showing empathy
Using inclusive language when speaking with people or noting down information in their health chart
Participating in unconscious bias training sessions at your workplace, or advocating for them if they’re not offered
Advocating for cultural competency training and access to resources that support AANHPI people during healthcare visits
Reporting bias in the workplace when you see it
The bottom line
There is a long way to go toward addressing health disparities and inequities that affect the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. But realizing that there is a lot of diversity within this larger community — including within the subgroups — is a key first step.
Economic and health insurance status — as well as whether or not cultural or language barriers exist — differ from one member of the community to the next. Acknowledging that and actively unlearning biases can help healthcare providers accurately and empathetically address the healthcare needs of AANHPI people.
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References
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