Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105951

Linda Burhansstipanov, MPH, DrPH¹, Mark Dignan, PhD, MPH², Judy Hariton³, Lisa Harjo, MA⁴, and Terri L. Rattler⁴. (1) Executive Director, Native American Cancer Research (NACR), 3022 S. Nova Rd, Pine, CO 80470, (2) Prevention Research Center, University of Kentucky, 2365 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite B100, Lexington, KY 40504, 859-219-0771 ext 271, mdignan@prc.uky.edu, (3) Project Coordinator, Native American Cancer Research, 3022 South Nova Road, Pine, CO 80470-7830, (4) Outreach Worker, Native American Cancer Research, 3022 South Nova Road, Pine, CO 80470-7830

This NCI education study built upon a foundation of two previous Navigator projects addressing Native American breast health behaviors. The goal of this project was to increase urban American Indians adherence to annual breast health screening. The comparison group was American Indian women in the Colorado Mammography Project (CMAP). Eligible women were American Indian women, ages 40 and older, living in the greater Denver metropolitan area, and had not had a mammogram within the previous eighteen months. Women participated in an informed consent process, and for those who agreed to participate, the “Native Sisters” (trained Navigators) administered a breast health survey. After the survey, the women were randomly assigned to one of two education interventions: telephone or face-to-face. Survey information was integrated within a tailored/personalized breast health education booklet. All women were contacted during year 05 of the study to complete the post-intervention survey. 71% of those enrolled were retained in the study and completed the posttest. The control group had no change in screening behaviors (i.e., participation in breast health exams within 18 months was 51.9% at pretest and 50.0% at posttest for the control group). Both the telephone and face-to-face interventions showed an increase in the proportion of intervention group participants reporting having a mammogram within the past 18 months from pretest to posttest (statistically significant at the p=.013). Both the telephone and face-to-face formats were effective and there was not significant differences between the two (p=.83).

Learning Objectives:

• The APHA session participant will be able to list at least two culturally unique challenges from the Navigator project.
• The APHA session participant will be able to describe the effectiveness of the Navigator and control group interventions.

Keywords: Native Americans, Cancer Screening

Related Web page: www.NatAmCancer.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.