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The goal of this study was to conduct an exploratory assessment of COVID-19 mitigation steps and compare workplace experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic with Marshallese workers in other occupations. Marshallese adults residing in the continental United States (US) and Hawaii took part in an online survey. The sample was divided into two categories: food processing workers and workers in all other occupations. To examine differences between food processing workers and workers from all other occupations, we used Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U tests and Fisher's Exact tests. Of those employed at the time of the survey (n = 113), 31 were employed in food processing plants, and 82 were employed in another occupation. Food processing workers and workers in other occupations differed significantly on level of education, length of residence in the US, English-speaking ability, and health literacy. More food processing workers reported that their employers installed barriers or provided shields (45%), provided temperature screenings (71%), and tested for COVID-19 (61%) compared with those in other occupations. A larger proportion of food processing workers reported having no sick leave compared with workers in other occupations, although they reported COVID-19 testing and being insured at similar rates. This is the first study to examine Marshallese food processing workers' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings show that while some food processing employers implemented government-recommended guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, preventative and protective measures were not comprehensively applied across the food processing industry, despite efforts by public health agencies and community partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to determine recruitment and retention feasibility, changes in self-efficacy for diet and exercise, and weight and fasting insulin level change after a lifestyle intervention in a community park. A randomized wait-list control design was used to recruit 50 Filipino American participants into a flexible eight-week curriculum. The retention rate was 88%. A weight loss of 1.52 kg (p< .05) and a waist reduction of 5.46 cm (p< .05) were found in the intervention group. Significant predictors for weight loss were gender and marital status. The intervention showed promise for this community program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]