Evaluating the Effectiveness of Culturally Tailored Cardiovascular Health Training Using Life’s Essential 8 for Asian American Community Health Workers

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects Asian Americans. Despite the rapid growth of this population, culturally tailored cardiovascular health training for community health workers (CHWs) remains scarce. This study evaluated a culturally tailored cardiovascular health (CVH) training for Asian American CHWs based on the "Life's Essential 8" framework from the American Heart Association. DESIGN: A pretest - posttest mixed methods study using a hybrid (online and in-person) training intervention. METHODS: Twenty Asian American CHWs were recruited via purposive and convenience sampling. Data collection included a CVH knowledge questionnaire, perceived self-efficacy and motivational interviewing (MI) confidence scales, and personal CVH score assessments. Quantitative data were analyzed with paired t-tests, complemented by qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses. FINDINGS: Post-training, CHWs showed statistically significant improvements in CVH knowledge (p = .007) and personal CVH scores (p = .014), suggesting both improved literacy and personal health behavior change. No significant changes were found in perceived self-efficacy or MI confidence sum score. Qualitative findings revealed that while CHWs highly valued the culturally specific content, they required more hands-on practice to gain confidence in MI skills. CONCLUSIONS: Culturally tailored training successfully enhances knowledge and personal CVH metrics among Asian American CHWs. However, skill-based MI confidence may require longer-term support and practical application beyond a single training program period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Investing in culturally tailored CHW training is a high-impact strategy to bridge the health equity gap. Improving the CVH of community-dwelling frontline workers not only empowers them as educators but also provides the community with healthy role models to improve CVH.