Background of Problem: Healthy People 2020 is a national agenda set by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to promote health and prevent diseases. One overarching goal of Healthy People 2020 is to eliminate health disparities among different segments of the population. Filipino Americans, the third largest minority population in the United States, continue to experience striking health disparities, which includes higher rates of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The health of the Filipino Americans is integral to the well-being of the nation, therefore, there is a need to develop health promotion programs to improve health and achieve health equity. Foreground of the Problem: The benefits of physical activity as primary health promotion and cardiovascular disease prevention have been well established. After residing in the United States for a period of time, Filipino Americans often gain weight from physical inactivity. The adherence to exercise is considered “a matter of priorities”. There is a vital need to encourage Filipino Americans to be physically active in their leisure time and increase the levels of physical activity. Evidence-Based Practice Framework: Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM) is the conceptual nursing framework used for the study. The Rosswurm and Larrabee Model is the evidence-based practice model that guides in the systematic approach in developing the Health Promotion Education Program (HPEP) for Filipino Americans. Method: A one-day health promotion educational program on physical activity is implemented for a small Filipino American community in a large city in Texas. The goal of HPEP is to increase awareness and knoweldge of physical activity and its health benefits thus decreasing health disparities and improving the health of the Filipino Americans. All participants completed the pre-test survey as adapted from the Active Australian Survey Tool. An interactive demonstration and participation of different types of physical activity exercises follows after the lecture-discussion. All participants completed the post-test survey two weeks after the education intervention. Findings/Results: Data from the pre- and post-surveys were used to determine the changes in the level of physical activity as a result of the evidence-based project. The results showed the participants have increased their frequency and duration of physical activity to achieve sufficient time to attain health benefits regardless of age, gender, and number of years in US. Conclusions/ Recommendations: The Health Promotion Educational Program empowered the Filipino Americans members of a social community in a large city of Texas to adopt health lifestyle through physical activity self-efficacy that they can incorporate in their daily lives. The health of the Filipino Americans is intergral to the well being of the nation, therefore, there is a strong need to continue developing health promotion interventions to eliminate health disparities and improve the health of all citizens.
