Illness perceptions and blood pressure control among hypertensive Filipino Americans: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Among Asian Americans, Filipino Americans (FAs)-who constitute the fourth largest US immigrant group and who fill in health care workforce shortages-experience high prevalence but low control rates of high blood pressure (HBP). Research reveals that patients' illness perceptions, their common-sense model (CSM) of the illness, influence treatment behaviors, and management outcomes. However, scarce information exists about FAs' perceptions about HBP.

Level of acculturation, food intake, dietary changes, and health status of first-generation Filipino Americans in Southern California.

Purpose: This exploratory descriptive study investigates the acculturation level, food intake, dietary changes and practices, health status perceptions, and diet-related health indicators-body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, and waist-to-hip ratio-of first-generation Filipino Americans (FAs) in Southern California.

Data Sources: Healthy FA adults-20 women and 10 men-were interviewed. Acculturation level was obtained using A Short Acculturation Scale for Filipino Americans.