Bud Pomaka'i Cook, PhD, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Manoa, 1266 Kamehameha Ave., Suite C, Hilo, HI 96720, 808.935.5300, bcook12@verizon.net and Kelley Withy, MD, Hawaii AHEC Office, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 1960 East-West Rd. Biomed T-105, Honolulu, HI 96822.

Background: Health education programs serving the needs of disenfranchised populations often endeavor to include some aspect of cultural sensitivity in their philosophy and practice. Disenfranchised populations’ incorporate a shared history of cultural and social trauma in their communal identity. Rather than some lack in cultural practices and norms, it is this aspect of self-identity that often derails the well-intentioned efforts of health planners and policy makers in their endeavors. The dynamics of shared history can also shape the outcomes of intervention and research programs in potentially significant ways.

The phenomenon of shared history is the focal point used to distinguish a specific trauma variant, one founded in disturbances to the collective psyche of a people. Social and historical events contribute to maladies of the mind and spirit; leading to declines in health status, and increases in self-harming lifestyle choices. Initial insights into cultural history as a source of trauma has largely emerged from the experiences of Indigenous communities working to improve health and well-being.

Culturally-based trauma can now be described, accounted for in program and policy development. An explanatory model being researched in Hawai’i, Cultural Trauma Syndrome will be presented. The session will underscore similar trauma response adaptations in use in the United States and Canada. Insights on how community health planning and policy can be shaped to account for its effects will be offered.

Goal: Enhanced understanding of cultural trauma and its impact on health status, health education, and health care in disenfranchised populations.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the structures and dynamics of Cultural Trauma Syndrome.
• Understand the health and lifestyle effects of social history for disenfranchised populations, especially as they relate to community health planning and policy.
• Recognize how procedures lacking specific cultural accommodations may place planners and policy makers at odds with populations they serve.

Keywords: Cultural Competency, Community Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.