JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many community-based organizations (CBOs) quickly pivoted to providing virtual care and services. Many CBOs reported escalated racial discrimination and isolation experienced by older Asian American (AA) adults since the COVID-19 outbreak. AA community leaders in the United States Pacific Northwest expressed that there are older AA immigrant adults who experienced backlash from discrimination, fear, and anxiety due in part to anti-Asian hate and isolation, including from infection precautions.

Objective:

To examine the readiness of diverse groups of older AA immigrant adults (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese) for using a virtual senior center, including technology access and telehealth use; and to identify psychosocial health impacts that a virtual senior center could be positioned to meet.

Methods:

A community-based participatory research approach was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey study in an Asian-based health and service center in 2022. Selected surveys from the National Institutes of Health-supported PhenX Toolkit platform. Analyses were performed with R software.

Results:

There was an 88.2% (216/245) response rate. 39.8% (86/216) were Chinese, 25% (54/216) Korean, and 24.5% (53/216) Vietnamese. Significant group differences existed in mobile data plan (P=0.0005). Most had an unlimited mobile data plan (38/86, 44.2% Chinese; 39/54, 72.2% Korean; 25/53, 47.2% Vietnamese). Significant group differences existed on whether started using a new electronic device to communicate with friends/family after the COVID-19 outbreak (P=.0005); most Korean participants at 57.4% (31/54). For written text and audio/video apps, most Chinese participants used WeChat (65/85, 76.5%; 57/84, 67.9%), most Koreans used KakaoTalk (49/54, 90.7%; 49/54, 90.7%); and most Vietnamese used Facebook messenger for written (32/50, 64%) and Apple Face Time (33/50, 66%) or Facebook Messenger (31/50, 62%) for audio/video. Significant group differences existed regarding whether to consider trying telehealth (P=0.0005); most Vietnamese expressed would never (41/53, 77.4%). Significant group differences existed regarding how well been able to concentrate in regards to overall psychosocial health (χ22=44.7, P<.0001); Chinese participants reported greater inability (median 5, IQR4-6). In regards to having experienced difficulties in life (χ22=51, P<.0001), the median (IQR) was 6 (5-7) for the Vietnamese group. Significant group differences existed in having had a family/household member’s salary/hours/contracts significantly reduced (P=0.0005) and having had a family/household member/friend fallen physically ill (P=0.0005); most Vietnamese participants at 28.3% (15/53) and most Korean participants at 18.9% (10/53), respectively. Significant group differences existed regarding the exercise activity level (χ22=20.2, P<.0001), and the median (IQR) was 4 (3-5) for Chinese.

Conclusions:

To build an efficacious virtual senior center, more older adults need access to the internet and education on using technology-enabled communication devices. Addressing the unique psychosocial needs and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic of each group could improve health equity. The strength of older adults participating was observed and honored. Clinical Trial: not applicable