The purpose of the project is to promote cancer awareness and education through the development of culturally and spiritually appropriate materials for American Indian cancer patients, family members, healthcare providers and community leaders. Cancer health disparities cannot be reduced without taking into consideration a wide range of issues that include the spiritual needs of American Indians going through cancer. Currently, there are limited educational materials that specifically address these aspects of cancer care. The Southwest American Indian Collaborative Network (SAICN), whose goal is to reduce cancer health disparities among American Indians in the Southwest, has developed two educational videos: “American Indian Attitudes & Values: An Integral Part in Cancer Care” and “Cancer Has Crept among Us.” In addition, SAICN is developing a “Gathering Basket” which includes the two videos and other cancer education materials.

“American Indian Attitudes & Values: An Integral Part in Cancer Care” features interviews with American Indian cancer survivors, family members, community leaders and health care providers on the importance of providing culturally and spiritually appropriate cancer care services. “Cancer Has Crept among Us” features the story of an American Indian Cancer survivor and her family's experiences with cancer in a rural Indian community. The story highlights cancer disparities that are often found within American Indian communities and encourages viewers to draw upon their spiritual and cultural traditions as a source of hope in providing care and in facing cancer as an individual, family member and/or community member.

The goals of the materials are to: 1) provide a greater respect for the spiritual and cultural needs of American Indians seeking cancer care; 2) provide a greater understanding of American Indian traditional ceremonies surrounding life transitions; 3) provide methods for integrating these stories and traditional ceremonies into the cancer care setting to ensure that cancer patients are provided with culturally responsive care; 4) educate viewers about the vital link between spiritual care and medical care for American Indians; 5) identify ways in which persons with cancer and their families can be supported spiritually through their cancer experience; and 6) provide relevant information about cancer and cancer care for American Indians.

The authors will present an overview of the collaborative efforts in which the videos strengthen existing and initiating new partnerships with communities and organizations. In addition, dissemination of the video and viewer feedback will be shared with conference participants.

Second AACR International Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities— Feb 3–6, 2009; Carefree, AZ

American Association for Cancer Research
2009