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Studies have consistently shown that Asian Americans’ rate of health-service utilization and treatment adherence is very low relative to other racial/ethnic groups. Asian Americans are also more likely than their European American counterparts to experience unfairness and discrimination in health care and to express lower trust in their health-care providers. This study examined the associations among Asian American patients’ perceived provider cultural sensitivity, trust in provider, and treatment adherence. Study participants included 63 predominantly low-income Asian Americans recruited in a national study on patient-centered culturally sensitive health care. Data in this study were collected via self-report questionnaires. Pearson correlations revealed that Asian American patients’ perceived provider cultural sensitivity was associated significantly and positively with treatment adherence. Moreover, mediation analysis revealed that Asian American patients’ trust in their providers served as a positive mediator of the relation between patient-perceived provider cultural sensitivity and treatment adherence. The results of this study have implications for promoting patient-centered culturally sensitive health care among Asian American patients.

Eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity are central to realizing the vision of Healthy People 2020, which is to "have a society in which all people live long, healthy lives." Hence, the focus on health disparities for this special issue of Translational Issues in Psychological Science (TPS) is a timely and important one. This editorial highlights the importance of translational research in ameliorating the disparities that burden marginalized communities while taking into consideration the social determinants of health. Additionally, this editorial discusses 2 existing examples of multidirectional and multidisciplinary intervention approaches for reducing health disparities: the patient-centered medical home and community-based participatory research. It also highlights the broad array of topics that are covered in the articles comprising this special issue. Lastly, this editorial emphasizes a notable aspect of this special issue of TPS-the empowerment of student trainees in psychology and other health fields by having them not only be the primary authors on the included articles but also conduct its editorial and journal review processes. Having students assume these important roles have resulted in markedly conscientious reviews of the submitted articles and ultimately lead to the inclusion of very high-quality articles in this special journal issue.

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