263709 American Indian communities' needs assessments through participatory research

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Linda Burhansstipanov, DrPH , Founder, National Grants, Native American Cancer Research Corporation, Pine, CO
Judith Kaur, MD , Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic Spirit of EAGLES, Rochester, MN
Dewey Painter Sr., PhD , Cancer Prevention and Control, South and East American Indian Council, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
JoAnne Scott, BSN, MSN , Nuihc, NUIMC Clinic Administrator, Lincoln, NE
Donna Polk-Primm, PhD , Administration, Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, Omaha, NE
American Indian (AI) communities typically lack sufficient cancer information and data documenting their local cancer concerns. In addition, recent budgetary limitations have hampered most communities' abilities to collect accurate and timely data from a large enough sample to provide meaningful data for program and service planning. Without sufficient, accurate data, the community has difficulty focusing on the greatest cancer-related priorities affecting its population. Three AI community-based organizations were subcontracted by Mayo Clinic's Spirit of Eagles to collect local cancer needs assessment survey data. The primary methodology for survey implementation is to use an audience response system (ARS) version of a needs assessment survey that was tailored by local AI leaders. The survey is implemented with multiple, small community groups. Multiple advantages, including cost-effectiveness and ease of tailoring for diverse geographic regions will be shared during the session. Through the use of ARS with small AI gatherings, more than 150 unduplicated AI community members provided needs assessment feedback. Examples of findings include, more than ¾ of the community participants are AI and more than 40% have HS or less education. More than half are tobacco smokers and about half have family or friends diagnosed with tobacco-related cancers. About 2/3 are overweight, ¾ eat 0-2 fruits and vegetables daily, more than ¼ take part in no daily physical activity, and fewer than ¼ have taken part in recommended cancer screening. These findings are already being used to obtain funding for local cancer interventions.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Program planning
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify alternative, low-cost strategies to collect American Indian needs assessment data. 2. Identify 4 key findings related to cancer prevention and control from 2 geographically diverse American Indian communities.

Keywords: American Indians, Needs Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Burhansstipanov, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, has been using ARS methodology for needs assessment data collection since 2007. She has worked in public health since 1971, primarily focusing on Native American cancer issues and has more than 100 peer-reviewed published articles.
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.