Abstract
Native Navigators and the Cancer Continuum (NNACC) was a community based participatory research study among Native American Cancer Research Corporation, CO; Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, MI; Rapid City Regional Hospital’s Walking Forward, SD; Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s’ Health Board, SD; and Muscogee (Creek) Nation, OK. The project goal was to collaborate, refine, expand, and adapt navigator/community education programs to address American Indian communities’ and patients’ needs across the continuum of cancer care (prevention through end-of-life). The intervention consisted of four to six site-specific education workshop series at all five sites. Each series encompassed 24 h of community education. The Social Ecology Theory guided intervention development; community members from each site helped refine education materials. Following extensive education, Native Patient Navigators (NPNs) implemented the workshops, referred participants to cancer screenings, helped participants access local programs and resources, and assisted those with cancer to access quality cancer care in a timely manner. The intervention was highly successful; 1,964 community participants took part. Participants were primarily American Indians (83 %), female (70 %) and between 18 and 95 years of age. The education programs increased community knowledge by 28 %, facilitated referral to local services, and, through site-specific navigation services, improved access to care for 77 participants diagnosed with cancer during the intervention. Approximately, 90 % of participants evaluated workshop content as useful and 92.3 % said they would recommend the workshop to others. The intervention successfully increased community members’ knowledge and raised the visibility of the NPNs in all five sites.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Siegel R, Ma J, Zou Z, Jemal A (2014). Cancer Statistics, 2014. CA Cancer J Clin . Available on line from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21208/full. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21208.
National Cancer Institute (2012) Cancer trends progress report 2011–2012. http://progressreport.cancer.gov/print.asp Accessed November 9.
Espey DK, Wu XC, Swan J, Wiggins C, Jim MA, Ward E et al (2007) Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2004, featuring cancer in American Indians and Alaska Natives. Cancer 110(10):2119–52
Wiggins CL, Espey DK, Wingo PA, Kaur JS, Wilson RT, Swan J et al (2008) Cancer among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 1999–2004. Cancer 113(5 Suppl):1142–52
Edwards BK, Ward E, Kohler BA, Eheman C, Zauber AG, Anderson RN et al (2010) Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2006, featuring colorectal cancer trends and impact of interventions (risk factors, screening, and treatment) to reduce future rates. Cancer 116(3):544–73
Henderson JA, Espey DK, Jim MA, German RR, Shaw KM, Hoffman RM (2008) Prostate cancer incidence among American Indian and Alaska Native men, US, 1999–2004. Cancer 113(5 Suppl):1203–12
Wiggins CL, Espey DK, Wingo PA et al (2008) Cancer among AIs and Alaska Natives in the US, 1999–2001. Cancer 113(5 Suppl):1142–52
Espey DK, Wiggins CL, Jim MA, Miller BA, Johnson CJ, Becker TM (2008) Methods for improving cancer surveillance data in AI and Alaska Native populations. Cancer 113(5 Suppl):1120–30
Kaur JS, Hampton JW (2008) Cancer in AI and Alaska Native populations continues to threaten an aging population: the need for tribal, state, and federal action. Cancer 113(5 Suppl):1117–9
Kaur Judith Salmon, Burhansstipanov Linda, Krebs Linda U (2013) Understanding the True Burden of Cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, Chapter II in Health Disparities (Eds): Owen T. Jackson, Kathleen A. Evans, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Pages 39–75.
Freeman HP, Muth BJ, Kerner JF (1995) Expanding access to cancer screening and clinical follow-up among the medically underserved. Cancer Pract 3(1):19–30
Burhansstipanov Linda, Clark Richard E., Watanabe-Galloway Shinobu, Petereit Daniel G., Eschiti Valerie, Krebs Linda U, Pingatore Noel L (2012) Online Evaluation Programs: Benefits and Limitations. J Cancer Educ, Vol 22 February 2012. DOI: 10.1007/s13187-012-0320-9 PMID: 22447646
Burhansstipanov L, Krebs LU, Seals BF, Bradley AA, Kaur JS, Iron P, Dignan MB, Thiel C. Gamito E (2010) Native American Breast Cancer Survivors’ Physical Conditions and Quality Of Life. Cancer. March PMID: 20120031 DOI: 10.002.cncr.24924
Burhansstipanov L, Dignan M, Jones Katherine L, Krebs Linda U, Marchionda P, Kaur Judith S (2012) A comparison of quality of life between native and non-native cancer survivors. J Cancer Educ 22:S106–S113. doi:10.1007/s13187-012-0318-3, PMID: 22302431
Kaur Judith Salmon, Bsurhansstipanov, Linda, Krebs, Linda U (2013) Understanding the True Burden of Cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, Chapter II in Health Disparities, (Eds) Own T. Jackson and Kathleen A. Evans, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Pages 39–75.
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by “Native Navigators and the Cancer Continuum (NNACC) [NIMHD R24 MD002811]. Thank you to Native Patient Navigators: Audrey Marshall, Rose Lee, Linda Lucero, Amanda Leonard, and Mark Ojeda-Vasquez. In Memory of NACR’s native brother (navigator), Lance Nakose Allrunner (Cheyenne, Comanche, and Kiowa Nations). Western Institutional Review Board Protocol Number 20081858
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burhansstipanov, L., Krebs, L.U., Dignan, M.B. et al. Findings from the Native Navigators and The Cancer Continuum (NNACC) Study. J Canc Educ 29, 420–427 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0694-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0694-y