Pan-Arctic TV Series on Inuit wellness: a northern model of communication for social change?

Abstract

Objectives. This paper provides highlights of a utilization-focused evaluation of a collaborative Pan-Arctic Inuit Wellness TV Series that was broadcast live in Alaska and Canada in May 2009. This International Polar Year (IPY) communication and outreach project intended to (1) share information on International Polar Year research progress, disseminate findings and explore questions with Inuit in Alaska, Canada and Greenland; (2) provide a forum for Inuit in Alaska, Canada and Greenland to showcase innovative health and wellness projects; (3) ensure Inuit youth and adult engagement throughout; and (4) document and reflect on the overall experience for the purposes of developing and "testing" a participatory communication model. Study design. Utilization-focused formative evaluation of the project, with a focus on overall objectives, key messages and lessons learned to facilitate program improvement. Methods. Participant observation, surveys, key informant interviews, document review and website tracking. Results. Promising community programs related to 3 themes -men's wellness, maternity care and youth resilience -in diverse circumpolar regions were highlighted, as were current and stillevolving findings from ongoing Arctic research. Multiple media methods were used to effectively deliver and receive key messages determined by both community and academic experts. Local capacity and new regional networks were strengthened. Evidence-based resources for health education and community action were archived in digital formats (websites and DVDs), increasing accessibility to otherwise isolated individuals and remote communities. action. Consistent with a communication for social change approach, the project created new networks, increased motivation to act and provided new tools to do so, and increased local community involvement and "voice" in the discussion and dissemination of successful strategies to promote Inuit wellness.

Evaluation of the acceptability of a CD-Rom as a health promotion tool for Inuit in Ottawa

“…One recent health promotion program delivered to Inuit in the north examined the effectiveness of a series of media-based programmes for men's wellness, maternity care and youth wellness. Researchers noted that the use of technology was key to accessing such isolated and remote communities (2). For Inuit in southern and urban regions, there is often only limited access to health promotion tools developed in the north, which is of growing concern given the increasing numbers of Inuit living in urban regions (3).…”

Reviewing Health Service and Program Evaluations in Indigenous Contexts: A Systematic Review

“…There can be significant differences and tensions that arise between (Euro-Western) academic and Indigenous paradigms, epistemologies, ontologies, theories, data collection techniques, contextual analyses and interpretation, and evaluation priorities (Fanian et al, 2015;Jacob & Desautels, 2014;Johnson et al, 2011;McCalman et al, 2015;Pakseresht et al, 2014;Sy et al, 2015). These differences need to be addressed at the conceptual stage of evaluation in order to determine the most suitable approach for the diverse evaluation needs of a particular project (Alvarez et al, 2016;Gray et al, 1998;Tipene-Leach et al, 2013;Voyle & Simmons, 1999).…”

The Arctic Human Health Initiative: a legacy of the International Polar Year 2007–2009

“…The Women's Health Working group maintains an active list of ~60 members to share resources and opportunities and sponsored a pre-congress seminar on Health Literacy and Northern Women's Health in Fairbanks in August 2012 that attracted ~50 participants. There have been several collaborative projects that have come out of this network, including a Pan-Arctic Inuit Wellness TV Series and an April 2012 special issue of the IJCH focused on Participatory Research and Ethics (103,104). …”