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Learning About Cancer Has Brightened My Light: Cancer Education for Alaska Community Health Aides and Community Health Practitioners (CHA/Ps)

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Abstract

In response to Alaska’s Community Health Aides/Practitioners (CHA/Ps) request for cancer information, the “Path to Understanding Cancer” course was developed, implemented, and extensively evaluated. Using a qualitative approach as one evaluation component, 128 of 168 course participants engaged in post-course telephone interviews. Of these, 116 (81%) CHA/Ps felt more comfortable in talking about cancer and 57% had increased cancer screening referrals for patients. Additionally, 28% of 110 CHA/P respondents and 21% of 114 CHA/Ps’ family members sought and received cancer screening; they had also made lifestyle changes to reduce cancer risk, including tobacco cessation and healthy changes in nutrition and exercise. Through qualitative design, we gained insight into CHA/Ps’ lived experience of cancer and an understanding of ways the course made a difference in patient care as well as cancer risk reduction, cancer screening, and prevention for themselves, their families, and people in their communities.

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References

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the CHA/Ps and rural healthcare providers who participated in telephone interview evaluation of the “Path to Understanding Cancer” course, as well as other project team members including Dr. Anne Lanier, Dr. Mark Dignan, Ms. Janet Kelly, and Ms. Katie Cueva. We are grateful for the support of the National Cancer Institute R25 CA 96514 and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

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Correspondence to Regina Kuhnley or Melany Cueva.

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Kuhnley, R., Cueva, M. Learning About Cancer Has Brightened My Light: Cancer Education for Alaska Community Health Aides and Community Health Practitioners (CHA/Ps). J Canc Educ 26, 522–529 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0207-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0207-1

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