Abstract
Native Navigators and the Cancer Continuum (NNACC) was a community-based participatory research study among five American Indian organizations. The intervention required lay Native Patient Navigators (NPNs) to implement and evaluate community education workshops in their local settings. Community education was a new role for the NPNs and resulted in many lessons learned. NPNs met quarterly from 2008 through 2013 and shared lessons learned with one another and with the administrative team. In July 2012, the NPNs prioritized lessons learned throughout the study that were specific to implementing the education intervention. These were shared to help other navigators who may be including community education within their scope of work. The NPNs identified eight lessons learned that can be divided into three categories: NPN education and training, workshop content and presentation, and workshop logistics and problem-solving. A ninth overarching lesson for the entire NNACC study identified meeting community needs as an avenue for success. This project was successful due to the diligence of the NPNs in understanding their communities’ needs and striving to meet them through education workshops. Nine lessons were identified by the NPNs who provided community education through the NNACC project. Most are relevant to all patient navigators, regardless of patient population, who are incorporating public education into navigation services. Due to their intervention and budget implications, many of these lessons also are relevant to those who are developing navigation research.
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Abbreviations
- AI:
-
American Indian
- ARS:
-
Audience response system
- CHS:
-
Contract Health Services
- GPTCHB:
-
Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board
- IHS:
-
Indian Health Service
- ITCMI:
-
Inter-tribal Council of Michigan, Inc.
- MCN:
-
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- MoAs:
-
Memorandum of Agreement with local AI organizations
- NACR:
-
Native American Cancer Research Corporation
- NNACC:
-
Native Navigators and the Cancer Continuum
- NPNs:
-
Native Patient Navigators
- Partners:
-
NACR, ITCMI, RCRH, GPTCHB, and MCN
- RCRH:
-
Rapid City Regional Hospital
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the “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.
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In memory of NACR’s Native Brother (navigator), Lance Nakose Allrunner (Cheyenne, Comanche, and Kiowa Nations).
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Burhansstipanov, L., Krebs, L.U., Harjo, L. et al. Providing Community Education: Lessons Learned from Native Patient Navigators. J Canc Educ 29, 596–606 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0690-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0690-2