WED-091 - Assessing Cancer Care Services and Burden Across Arizona Native Nations: A Community-specific Approach

Brief Abstract Summary: Learn about the Center for Native American Cancer Health Equity’s (C-NACHE) Community Cancer Services and Burden Assessments designed to inform Arizona-based Native Nation leaders and health care organizations about their community members’ perception of cancer burden and services in their region. Explore how C-NACHE achieved the objective of reaching 6% of the adult population of partnering Native Nations. In this session, attendees will discover 1) the process of obtaining approval from multiple Native Nations; 2) creation of the 11-question community cancer services and burden survey; 3) collaborating with tribal liaisons; 4) conducting data collection; and 5) sharing aggregate data from the community assessments. The goal of the state-wide initiative is to reach the 20 Arizona Native Nations that do not have a tribally administered cancer prevention and education program.

Detailed abstract description: Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Native Americans nationwide. In Arizona (AZ), Native Americans who constitute 5.7% of the state population, have lower incidence rates of screening for detectable cancers than non-Hispanic Whites and are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cancer stages, elevating rates of cancer mortality. Furthermore, Native Americans living in rural locations, are exposed to environmental contamination caused by mining, agricultural pesticides, and oil spills. For Native Americans living in AZ, cancer risk and services are influenced by rurality and the societal positionality of Native Americans as an ethnic group. These limitations have been shaped by historic and current federal policies that determine the financial resources, administration, availability of services and contaminate abatement. The Center for Native American Cancer Health Equity (C-NACHE) at Northern Arizona University was established to advance cancer health equity by building collaborations with and among Arizona Native Nations and institutions serving Native Americans in the southwest region. The Community Cancer Services and Burden Assessments (CA) are an activity under C-NACHE, with an overarching goal for tribal or organizational leadership to understand their community members’ knowledge of cancer prevention services and care priorities. The goal is to reach the 20 Arizona Native Nations that do not have a tribally administered cancer prevention and education program. The community cancer surveys are developed using a community-based approach, in collaboration with members of each community. C-NACHE has resources to survey 6% of the adult population of each partnering Native Nation. Survey eligibility criteria to complete the survey include being a member of a federally recognized Native Nation, residing in an AZ tribal community, and being > 18 years of age. Respondents receive an incentive upon completion of the survey. Tribal liaisons, often members of the C-NACHE community advisory board, are instrumental in co-requesting tribal approval of survey administration, survey development, and recruitment. The data gathered will be analyzed and results will be shared with partnering Native Nations. Aggregate findings will be used to inform state and national strategies and policy advocacy. In this session, attendees will discover 1) the process of obtaining approval from multiple Native Nations; 2) creation of the 11-question community cancer services and burden survey; 3) collaborating with tribal liaisons; 4) conducting data collection; and 5) sharing aggregate data from the community assessments.