Establishing the Guma' Tinemtom to support population health research through island wisdom in Guam

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PROJECT SUMMARY Historically, data on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) have been aggregated with Asians thereby masking disparities across this diverse group. Recent disaggregation of NHPIs in health data sets, such as the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in the United States (US), indicate that NHPI health disparities continue to exist. The NHIS excludes the US territories and affiliated Pacific Islands where non-communicable diseases (NCD) have been declared a health emergency. One NCD, common yet understudied in the US Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), is gout sometimes resulting from hyperuricemia. NHPIs in the US experience a higher burden of gout and hyperuricemia. Furthermore, half- century old data suggest differences in gout and hyperuricemia among populations in the USAPIs, but the data needs updating. In partnership with the University of Michigan, the University of Guam proposes two specific aims to: 1) establish a Micronesian Data Laboratory at the University of Guam, and 2) conduct the first Guam NHIS with a representative probability sample of 500 households of adults and adolescents in Guam with an emphasis on measuring gout and hyperuricemia prevalence. The Micronesian Data Laboratory will occur in Years 1 and 2 and require identifying and equipping the physical space, as well as forming a Steering Committee working with community partners. The research approach in Years 3 to 5 will entail the Guam NHIS preparation (sampling frame design, finalization of instruments, interviewer training), implementation (household recruitment and interviews), and analysis and dissemination of findings. Throughout the project, the research team will engage the Steering Committee and community partners – a process that may identify novel alternative approaches to enhance research implementation in the COVID-19 era sustainable through our Micronesian Data Laboratory. The inaugural GNHIS findings will inform policy or program needs to support population health, generate future collaborative grant proposals, and serve as a model for other territories or USAPIs interested in NHIS or similar survey implementation.