The groundwork for the Pacific Islander cancer control network (PICCN) began in the early 1990s with a study of the cancer control needs of American Samoans.The necessity for similar studies among other Pacific Islander populations led to the development of PICCN. The project's principal objectives were to increase cancer awareness and to enhance cancer control research among American Samoans, Tongans, and Chamorros. PICCN was organized around a steering committee and 6 community advisory boards, 2 from each of the targeted populations. Membership included community leaders, cancer control experts, and various academic and technical organizations involved with cancer control. Through this infrastructure, the investigators developed new culturally sensitive cancer education materials and distributed them in a culturally appropriate manner. They also initiated a cancer control research training program, educated Pacific Islander students in this field, and conducted pilot research projects. PICCN conducted nearly 200 cancer awareness activities in its 6 study sites and developed cancer educational materials on prostate, colorectal, lung, breast, and cervical cancer and tobacco control in the Samoan, Tongan, and Chamorro languages. PICCN trained 9 students who conducted 7 pilot research projects designed to answer important ques-
24 (2), 443-449 the U.S., Guam is geographically located in Asia and 33.6% of its population is Asian (including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and other ethnic groups, with Filipinos making up 26.3%) (Central Intelligence Agency, 2022). In 2021, it was estimated that 14,480 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, with 4,290 women dying from this cancer (American Cancer Society, 2022). As it usually takes 15 to 20 years
Cultural competency is the ability to respectfully engage, understand, and communicate through conscientious interaction, enabling effective work and meaningful relationships in cross-cultural situations. Cultural competency recognizes the importance for organizations of participants’ diverse social and cultural values, beliefs, and behaviors, and has gained attention because it can bridge health perspectives, understanding, and respect between health professionals and patients. There remains a need for cultural competency in healthcare as disparities persist across the U.S. in racial and ethnic minority groups who experience worse health outcomes and lower healthcare quality than the general public. Therefore, a cultural competency training curriculum was created using various resources to improve interactions between Pacific Islander patients and healthcare professionals. This training helps to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare by encouraging mutual understanding and improving patient satisfaction, adherence to medical instructions, and overall health outcomes by highlighting patient-centered care as a result of utilizing components of cultural competency. To improve patient experiences in Hawai’i, healthcare professionals need the tools to better interact with patients from different cultures, such as Pacific Islanders. This training provides healthcare professionals with culturally-based content for improving cultural competence techniques for interacting with Pacific Island patients. This training was pilot tested with key stakeholders from community organizations and Cancer Center faculty/staff. Local health clinics, providers, and practices will have the opportunity to participate in this training through a Zoom-based electronic training format and be provided with three continuing medical education credits. The initial delivery of the training was intended for in-person sessions; however, a virtual format was adapted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing regulations. Healthcare providers are provided pre-training resources, a pre- and post-test, and a course evaluation to determine the validity of training objectives. To date, two Federally Qualified Health Centers have been provided the training, n=60, as well as one Cancer Health Equity Partnerships’ Scientific Workshop, n=40. For attendees, the analysis of correct responses from the pretest to post-test showed a significant improvement on 6 of the 12 questions. Respondents also agreed that the training resources aligned with the course objectives. Improved patient interactions from this training can help support better patient outcomes, adherence to medical advice regarding cancer screenings, and many other aspects of improving health equity for Pacific Islanders. Citation Format: Mark Lee Willingham Jr., Kevin Cassel, Angela Sy, Munirih Taafaki, Tressa P. Diaz, Angelina G. Mummert. Providing culturally responsible health care to Pacific Islander communities: The creation of a cultural competency training for healthcare professionals. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5533.
Since 2003, the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center (UHCC) and the University of Guam (UoG) have worked in partnership to explore health disparities/inequalities for different Pacific Island Populations (PIP). Investigators explore health behaviors and sources of health disparities and equity among Micronesian and Filipino community members in Hawai‘i, Guam, and the neighboring U.S. Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI) through the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity (PIPCHE). The Community Outreach Core of the partnership works towards objectives that include assisting and promoting PIPCHE research, ensuring inclusion PIP and Filipino community perspectives in research, and building healthcare providers’ competencies. This work aims to directly address the disproportionately high rates of cancer incidence and mortality found amongst these groups in Hawai‘i and Guam. Currently, few cancer control initiatives are designed to specifically address Micronesians and Filipinos, which comprise 40% of Hawai‘i’s population and 70% of Guam’s population. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death for men and the third leading cause of death for Filipinos in Hawai‘i. Also, Micronesians and Filipinos are highly underrepresented among cancer researchers and cancer health care professionals; culturally-grounded approaches to achieve parity in cancer control are sorely needed which remains a focus of the COC. To address the needs of the Filipino community in Hawai‘i, we conducted five semi-structured interviews with Filipino community members to facilitate community engagement, build relationships, and direct future areas for cancer control. Another goal was to establish a relationship-building process to recruit members for the COC Outreach Advisory Council to guide future community efforts. Participants ranged in age; however, all five identified as female were born in various parts of the Philippines, and migrated to Hawai'i at different ages. Some findings from the interviews included the need for culturally tailored and translated cancer materials and resources, a charge to focus on colorectal and breast cancer initiatives, and provide translated health communications utilizing local radio and faith-based organizations. These members were then asked to serve on our Outreach Advisory Council for a period of 5 years to help shape the COC’s efforts towards community engagement with the Filipino community. These planned community-focused efforts should be modeled to ensure shared community-based decision-making for this minority population. Citation Format: Mark Lee Willingham, Kevin Cassel, Angela Sy, Munirih R. Ta'afaki, Reyna Bodnar, Lilnabeth P. Somera, Tressa P. Diaz, Angelina G. Mummert, Harmony C. Palaganas. Using key informants to guide community outreach for cancer topics and areas of focus for Filipino communities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 3684.
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