203835 Assessing the needs for cancer support services on the Crow Reservation

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Larna C. Old Elk , Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
Suzanne Christopher, PhD , Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
Alma Knows His Gun McCormick , Health & Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
Community members of the Crow Indian reservation have expressed the need for cancer support services. Currently there are no organized cancer support services on the reservation. Cancer patients also have to travel long distances to the nearest hospital to receive cancer treatment. Our project is aimed at understanding what was helpful, what was lacking and what is needed from the perspective of cancer patients/survivors and their families. Cancer patients/survivors and their families were interviewed by a fellow tribal member/student using an open-ended interview format. The following topics were covered in the interview: diagnosis, treatment, support groups and future resources. We will present the results from these interviews and discuss recommendations for future plans. This project is a community-based participatory research project and is in conjuction with the Messengers for Health Program.

Learning Objectives:
People in the audience will be able to identify what cancer support services were useful, lacking and needed for cancer patients/survivors and their families of the Crow Tribe.

Keywords: Cancer, Native Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I'm qualified because I did the work
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Sharing Our Wise Practices: A Sample of Public Health Projects in Native Communities
See more of: American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Caucus