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Background The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) categorizes Filipino Americans as Asian; however, many may not identify as such, opting instead for 'other' or Pacific Islander (PI). This study examines the extent to which Filipino Americans select PI or 'other' rather than Asian, using a large population-based survey of Californians. Methods We analyzed data from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the largest state health survey in the U.S. that includes write-in prompts for detailed race and ethnicity data. The focus was on participants who identified as Pacific Islanders and wrote in 'Filipino,' those who selected 'Asian' and specified 'Filipino,' and respondents who chose 'other' and wrote in 'Filipino.' Results Our analysis included 1,859 Filipino respondents, revealing that 8.8% identified as Pacific Islander, 85.2% as Asian, and 6.1% as 'other.' Those identifying as PI were more likely to also identify as Latino/Hispanic, be older, and possess U.S. citizenship compared to those identifying as Asian. Discussion Disaggregating Filipino Americans from the broader Asian category in surveys is vital for accurately identifying the community's unique needs. We recommend incorporating open-ended write-in prompts in surveys that ask respondents to first identify their broader race category (e.g. Asian). These prompts help identify and reclassify Filipino respondents who may have identified as PI. Such prompts are also important for other racial/ethnic communities who may be uncertain about how to categorize themselves. Ongoing, dynamic community-driven research is essential for understanding identities and effectively categorizing Filipino Americans and other communities.

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