Assessment of a rural Native American's knowledge and thoughts on cancer risk and screening recommendations

B40

a)
 A random household survey was conducted in a rural Native American reservation community to assess adult community members’ knowledge of cancer education resources, cancer risk factors and preventative behaviors, and recommended cancer screening practices. This information would be used to design a local cancer education program.
 b)
 A culturally relevant survey based on the National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) was developed by a team of local lay and professional health care providers and a university partner. Community members were trained to administer the survey to a maximum of one female and one male adult residing in randomly assigned households. All data was analyzed and interpreted collaboratively by a local native health educator and the university partner.
 c)
 The survey was completed by 137 females and 88 males. These 225 adults represent approximately 40% of the population > 18 years of age.
 Respondents reported that they rarely received any information about cancer risk factors, screening recommendations and preventative behaviors but when they did the information most often came from lay health care providers and family members. Respondents consistently identified family history and environmental factors as important cancer risk factors. More than 40% of the younger respondents (< 35 years) recognized diet, physical inactivity and tobacco as cancer risk factors. Greater than 60% of women did report knowledge of recommended cervical and breast cancer screening practices but men were less well informed about prostate cancer screening practices. The respondents had little knowledge of other types of cancer screening tests. They reported that except for mammography and pap tests, they did not know if cancer screening tests were available to them.
 d)
 Adults, particularly those < 35 years of age, in this community were
 knowledgeable about types of cancers and cancer risk factors. Cancer
 information was received through trusted informal channels, e.g. family
 members and lay health care providers, and less often from health care
 professionals. Other than screenings for women’s cancers, respondents
 were not familiar with other recommended cancer screening practices and were unsure of their access to specialized tests. Results of this survey indicate any cancer education efforts in this community should engage the expertise of local lay health educators, include family and community-based education and collaborate with the local Indian Health Service administration to develop and advertise a clear path for patient access to screening services.