Objectives

Current cardiovascular disease (CVD) nutrition guidelines do not take into account Chinese medicine (CM) principles. We created a heart healthy integrative nutritional counseling (H2INC) curriculum consistent with CM principles and current nutrition guidelines.

Methods

We conducted three phases of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (CM and biomedical providers and Chinese American (CAs) patients with CVD) followed by iterative development of H2INC. First, we interviewed licensed CM providers (n = 9) and laypeople with CM foods expertise (n = 1). Second, we interviewed biomedical providers (n = 11) and licensed CM providers (n = 3). Third, we conducted four focus groups with CAs (n = 20) with CVD.

Results

Stakeholders emphasized different principles for creating H2INC. Phase one emphasized alignment of CM diagnoses to biomedical CVD conditions. Phase two overlaid CM concepts like the nature of foods and constitution (hot/neutral/cool) with heart healthy nutrition recommendations such as MyPlate, and avoiding excess salt, fat, and sugars. Phase three demonstrated patient acceptability.

Conclusion

By integrating CM foods principles with biomedical nutrition, this integrative approach yields culturally relevant health education for an underserved population.

Practice implications

Integrative nutritional counseling shows promise for CAs and could support biomedical providers with little knowledge about patients' use of CM for CVD.