The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40347

Everett R. Rhoades, MD¹, Fawn Yeh, PhD¹, Kymberly Cravatt, MPH¹, Don Sims, MA², Bryce Poolaw, MD³, and June E. Eichner, PhD¹. (1) Native American Prevention Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 800 N.E. 15th St., Room 532, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, (2) Riverside Indian School, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Route 1, Anadarko, OK 73005, (3) Indian Health Service Lawton Hospital, 1515 N.E. Lawrie Tatum Road, Lawton, OK 73507

The University of Oklahoma Native American Prevention Research Center (NAPRC), supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has developed partnerships with the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in an effort to promote both healthy physical bodies and positive mental outlooks among American Indian youth at Riverside Indian School, an off reservation boarding school funded by the BIA. One of our efforts was to screen youth (n=357) at the School for asthma using two self-report questionnaires and spirometry tests. The baseline screening for all students done with the help of Riverside administrators, teachers and staff identified 69 students with either abnormal or borderline lung function tests and 17 students reporting use of asthma medication. Through collaboration of the NAPRC faculty and graduate students, BIA personnel and IHS physicians and nurses, those with abnormal results underwent pre and post bronchodilator spirometry tests. Follow-up of this group of students led to referral of 45 students to the IHS pediatrician for definitive diagnosis and management. Other collaborative projects to aid in the broad-based public health effort to improve the health of American Indian youth include tutoring/mentoring with undergraduate students from the University of Oklahoma Norman campus and an annual Health Day sponsored by the NAPRC that includes physicians, epidemiologists, geneticists, health educators and IHS providers, all of whom give their time and expertise to provide information and activities related to health and healthy lifestyles.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe an effective collaboration between an Academic Health Center, the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Keywords: American Indians, Partner Involvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Oklahoma Native American Prevention Research Center
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.