 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
JoAnn Umilani Tsark, MPH, `Imi Hale - Native Hawaiian Cancer Network, Papa Ola Lokahi, 894 Queen Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, 808-597-6558, jtsark@papaolalokahi.org
Despite a national decline in the rates of cancer incidence and mortality, Native Hawaiians continue to experience disproportionate rates on the continent and in Hawai`i. `Imi Hale, the Native Hawaiian Cancer Awareness, Research, and Training Network, is a 5-year project funded by NCI to reduce the burden of cancer among Native Hawaiians through an infrastructure that promotes cancer awareness within Native Hawaiian communities, and initiates cancer research, training, and control activities. `Imi Hale emphasizes community participation, respect for cultural values, and the sharing of information so that the Native Hawaiian community’s awareness, training and research priorities are addressed.
Cancer awareness strategies include: · Development of culturally tailored cancer education materials, · Community outreach training and capacity building, · Community organizing to develop island specific strategies.
Research and training activities include: · Community input through focus groups and surveys, · Dissemination of information through community presentations and publications, · Capacity building, · Community referrals of indigenous researchers, · Pilot projects addressing identified research priorities, · Infrastructure to support community-based participatory research, such as Community Advisory groups and a community-based IRB that takes into account Hawaiian values and protocol, and · Support of researchers and physicians through mentorship, research training, skill building, technical assistance and resource identification.
Through a sustainable infrastructure established to reduce the burden of cancer among Native Hawaiians, `Imi Hale hopes to reverse the negative effects of cancer through awareness, research and training that will empower Native Hawaiians and guide future generations of Native Hawaiian researchers and research.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Native and Indigenous Populations, Cancer
Related Web page: www.imihale.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Papa Ola Lokahi
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment