Development of Promising and Best Practice Databases: Addressing gaps in American Indian and Alaska Native Cancer Control across the Lifespan

Background: Efforts by the National Cancer Institute [NCI] and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] to identify and disseminate effective programs and best practices in cancer control have yet to meet the needs of small, underserved populations such as American Indians and Alaska Natives [AIAN]. Recent funding by the CDC such as that for the Promise conference may assist with specific issues such tobacco control but a larger effort is needed to fill this gap. Methods: As part of a CDC funded cooperative agreement, AIAN regional conference attendees developed action plans and identified gaps in cancer control. Results: Cancer prevention efforts were identified as the greatest needs focusing on diet, physical activity and tobacco control. AIAN conference participants noted that rates of obesity and addictive cigarette smoking remained at high rates and associated cancers show no abatement. Conference participants bemoaned the lack of materials, program protocols, and other cancer control infrastructure that is needed to effectively address AIAN cancer control. Conclusions: Few tribes and tribal organizations are funded by federal or state agencies to address cancer control. Federal agencies such as Indian Health Services [IHS], NCI and CDC need to combine efforts to develop promising and best practice databases to disseminate program materials, protocols and strategies, especially for cancer prevention. Given limited health care resources in the future, especially for AIAN and other underserved populations, requires a combined effort to identify and disseminate effective cancer control strategies and best practices.