Developing and implementing a rapid cancer control needs assessment with Native communities

Background: American Indians (AI) experience some of the poorest survival rates from all cancers combined compared with other racial/ethnic groups. In the NE U.S., few cancer control plans explicitly address AI disparities. Tribes like those in the NE are small and reliable estimates from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveys are often not available, leaving an information gap that limits cancer control planning. Methods: In 2009 a medical anthropologist, public health educators and researchers, and tribal health advocates joined forces and designed a cancer needs assessment using rapid assessment procedures. Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles were applied in an effort to fully engage various tribes in an equitable manner. Lessons Learned: Tribal approval required many steps, meetings and negotiations. Limited resources at the community level constrained data collection practices but also allowed for creative application of rapid assessment techniques. Data collection provided opportunities for building tribal capacity, networking with local colleges for free labor, and increasing community skills at interpreting results and applying results to planning processes. Differing views shaped definitions of “participatory”, “rapid assessment procedures”, and “cancer prevention”. Data collected informed tribes of important gaps in health resources for cancer and other chronic diseases. Conclusions: Rapid Assessment techniques provide practical options for filling information needs by tribes and other minority populations. Tribal groups have unique approval processes, multiple needs and limited resources. CBPR practices both facilitate and complicate data collection. The end result provided tribes information for community planning and a foothold for active participation in state cancer planning.