Chronic Diseases and Alaska Native Tobacco Use - An ANTHC initiative to improve services

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) provides healthcare services to Alaska Natives statewide. Alaska Natives have the highest rate of tobacco use in Alaska with the prevalence of cigarette smoking at 39% compared with 19% for all Alaskans (BRFSS 2009). The actual tobacco use rate is much higher in some communities, 54%-80%. The Alaska Tribal Health System's Comprehensive Cancer Plan includes a tobacco goal: Reduce cancer incidence, illness, and death due to tobacco use among Alaska Natives.

The ANTHC Cancer program recognized the need for increased collaboration to address the tobacco use disparity among Alaska Natives. While there have been many tobacco policy and clinical cessation successes within the Alaska Tribal Health System, the disproportionally high tobacco use rate among the Alaska Native people indicates the need for innovative and collaborative partnerships to substantially impact the rate. Tribal technical assistance, support and increased partnership between tribal and non-tribal organizations across chronic disease programs are important to support individual and community changes.

The goal of the: Chronic Diseases and Tobacco Use Initiative is to create a collaborative workgroup involving programs and healthcare professionals at the Alaska Native Medical Center. The ANTHC workgroup members act as a connection between clinical services and community outreach efforts to increase collaboration among existing clinics and programs. Results include: revised and streamlined clinical protocol for high risk patents seeking cessation services, increased health education materials and communication outreach, and better coordination of tobacco education and treatment services.