Legacy of the Pacific Islander cancer control network

Abstract

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-

Impact of traditional Samoan lifestyle (fa’aSamoa) on cancer screening practices

“…Many Samoans do not believe that there is much one can do to prevent cancer (4), and they have low use of recommended cancer screening services (5,6). Complicating matters, until recently there were no culturally appropriate cancer education materials in the Samoan language made available to this population (7).…”

Tongan perceptions of cancer

“…Some efforts are underway by the Tongan community partners in the Pacific Islander Cancer Control Network to provide culturally tailored cancer education [31]. These efforts have included cancer messages on Tongan radio programs and reminders for women to obtain annual mammograms that use obligations to God, family, and community as motivators for taking care of her body.…”

“…In order to begin to understand what the US Tongan community thought about cancer and cancer prevention, the Pacific Islander Cancer Control Network Tongan community advisory boards [31] and our research group drew on the strong ties between community and church. Using a non-probability purposive sample design, community partners contacted local churches, described the parameters of the study and asked for Tongan volunteers 18 years of age or older.…”

Leveraging Cultural Knowledge to Improve Diet and Health among Affiliated Pacific Islander Populations

“…18 Finally, Samoans are descendants of people who migrated over oceans by canoe where survivorship favored efficient metabolisms. [23][24][25] Samoans' physiology reflects a metabolic profile that compounds the obesogenic effects of adopting Western dietary patterns. 26 These same physiologic attributes may be relevant to the peoples of Chuuk.…”