Healthcare barriers and supports for American Indian women with cancer

Proceedings from an Indigenous Women's Health Workshop: Use of a Co-Creation Process to Build Cross-Disciplinary Relationships and Support Creation of an Indigenous Women's Health Priority Agenda

Indigenous women experience disproportionately higher rates of adverse health outcomes. Few studies have explored the root of these problems or defined health and wellness from the perspectives of Indigenous women. Our objective was to elicit views on Indigenous women's health from women who are Indigenous and/or have experience working with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and Hawai'i (e.g., United States). Informed by intersectionality as a social critical theory, we convened a workshop to engage in a co-creative consensus-building and expert decision process using design thinking. The two-day workshop embraced Indigenous values of land, sacred spaces, genealogy, family, rituals, and culture. Participants included United States-based Native and Indigenous women (n = 16) and allies (n = 7). Participants focused on answering key questions such as "What are priority areas for Indigenous women's health"? and "What are the key facilitators and barriers to improving Indigenous women's health"? Co-created priority lists for each of these topics were generated. Participants overwhelmingly reported satisfaction with the workshop process and emphasis on a strength-based, culturally driven approach to share their stories, which contextualized the ideas, concerns, and priorities of Indigenous women who self-reflected on their own health and wellness. Creating culturally safe spaces for Indigenous people to reflect on their own hopes for the future relates to the theme by describing a process to bridge traditional healing with modern-day practices to build pilina.

Formative Evaluation and Adaptation of a Navajo Cancer Survivor Physical Activity Intervention to Serve a Broader Native American Cancer Survivor Community

BACKGROUND

Although exercise has been shown to improve cancer survivorship in other communities, cancer exercise studies among Native American communities are rare. We sought to adapt a Navajo-tailored cancer exercise pilot program to serve a broader Native American cancer community.

METHODS

Tribal experts representing 10 different Tribal Nations were engaged in small focus groups (n = 2-4) to assess program materials for cultural appropriateness and adaptation to expand tribal inclusiveness. Facilitated by a trained Native American interviewer, focus groups were provided a primer survey and then reviewed intervention materials (protocols, incentives, logo, flyers, etc.). Consensus was reached by the research team on all program adaptations.

RESULTS

The program name, Restoring Balance, layout, graphics, and symbols were considered culturally appropriate overall. Program exercises and biomarker measurements were viewed as valuable to health improvements in the community. Important color, linguistic, and logistic program modifications were recommended to improve cultural alignment. The order of incentive items was revised to highlight restoration and the logo rotated to align with the four corners of the earth, an important cultural element. Linguistic modifications primarily related to prior traumatic research experiences in Native American communities where data had been taken without adequate community benefit or permission. Program emphasis should be on nurturing, added value and giving.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

The methodology used for cultural expert review was successful in eliciting adaptations to expand the tribal inclusiveness of Restoring Balance. Culture, as well as historically traumatic research experiences, among Native American populations must be considered when adapting health promotion programming.

"'We'd Just Patch Ourselves up': Preference for Holistic Approaches to Healthcare and Traditional Medicine among Members of a State-Recognized Tribe"

Background:Health disparities between Native Americans and white Americans persist due to a variety of factors, including colonization, poverty, and racism. Racist interpersonal interactions between nurses and other healthcare providers and tribal members may also contribute to reluctance among Native Americans to engage with Western healthcare systems. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to better understand the healthcare experiences of members of a state-recognized Gulf Coast tribe. Methods: In partnership with a community advisory board, 31 semistructured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed utilizing a qualitative description approach. Results: All participants mentioned their preferences, views about, or experiences of using natural or traditional medicine approaches (referenced 65 times). Emergent themes include (a) preference for and use of traditional medicine; (b) resistance to western healthcare systems; (c) preference for holistic approaches to health; and (d) negative provider interpersonal interactions contributing to reluctance in seeking care. Conclusion: These findings suggest that integrating a holistic conceptualization of health and traditional medicine practices into Western healthcare settings would benefit Native Americans.

"'You Just Want to Give me Some Medicine and be on my Way': Preferences, Beliefs, and Experiences Related to Western Medication among Members of a State-Recognized Tribe"

Background: Native American/American Indian (NA/AI) people have higher rates of chronic disease, including substance use and mental health disorders, compared to White Americans. Though pharmaceuticals can be helpful in addressing many chronic healthcare conditions, many people do not take medications as prescribed. NA/AI identity has been found to be associated with lower rates of medication adherence compared to White Americans. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to better understand NA/AI women's perceptions, beliefs, and experiences related to medication. Methods: Thirty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with NA/AI women from a state-recognized tribe located in the Gulf South. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a qualitative description approach. Results: Eighteen women discussed their experiences using medications when asked about their healthcare experiences. Participants identified the following themes in their discussion of medication: (a) Cost of Medication as a Barrier; (b) Negative Side Effects of Western Medication; (c) Fear of Resistance and Dependence; (d) Preference for Traditional Medicine or None; and (e) Lack of Communication around Medications from Providers. Conclusion: Our findings support the growing call for cultural safety within medical settings and integrating NA/AI conceptualizations of health and well-being and traditional practices into western healthcare settings to better support NA/AI people.

The importance of community support for women in a Gulf Coast Indigenous tribe

Purpose –

Community support is an integral aspect of health and well-being for Indigenous peoples. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the valuable role of community support for Indigenous women specifically, who experience reproductive health disparities at alarming rates. This study helps fill an important gap in Indigenous scholarship by centering the resilience of women and Indigenous tribes and by using a framework that is consistent with Indigenous holistic views of health.

Design/methodology/approach –

The data for this paper was collected as part of a larger study exploring the reproductive health experiences of a state-recognized Gulf Coast tribe. A total of 31 semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who identify as women and as members of this tribe using qualitative descriptive methodology. This method is recommended for research with Indigenous communities. A community advisory board with representatives from this tribe provided feedback throughout the project.

Findings –

Themes expressed by participants included Community Closeness and Support; Community Support in Raising Children; Informal Adoption Common; and Community Values of Mutual Aid and Self-Sufficiency. The findings support current literature noting the value of generational and communal ties for Indigenous peoples. Implications of this research include the need to value and support community networks in programs serving tribes, in addition to meaningfully including Indigenous communities in developing interventions.

Originality/value –

This paper centers Indigenous women's resilience, approaches the health and well-being of Indigenous tribes holistically and helps to fill an important gap in literature describing informal adoption (outside the legal system) in state-recognized Indigenous communities.

"Treat Me like Your Family": Positive Factors that Influence Patient-Provider Relationships for Native American Women

Although extensive documentation of the health disparities experienced by Native American peoples exists, little research explores experiences of members of non-federally recognized tribes who receive health care outside of the Indian Health Services (IHS) system. Additionally, positive factors that influence relationships between health care providers and tribal members are understudied and are needed to promote health care access. A qualitative descriptive methodologic approach was used to conduct semi structured life history interviews with 31 women who identified as members of a state-recognized, Gulf South Native American tribe. Results identified the following important themes: Do Participants Have a Regular Provider, Personal Relationship With Provider, Feel Provider Cares, Provider Addresses Concern, and Respect for Traditional or Holistic Medicine. These findings suggest health care providers play an important role in impacting the health care experiences of Native American tribal members. Implications for trainings for health care providers are discussed.

"When you hear the noise, you know it's love": Family Support in American Indian Communities

Family relationships are an important source of emotional and instrumental support. In American Indian (AI) communities, families often provide support for women during childbirth and childrearing. The present study sought to gain insight into the influence of family during the pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing experiences of AI women from a Gulf Coast tribe. A qualitative descriptive research design was used, and 31 interviews were conducted with women from the tribe. The average age of participants was 51.17, and the majority of women had 2 to 3 children. Data was analyzed using a content analysis approach. Themes that emerged include: Influence of Childhood on Participant's Families and Parenting Styles, Significance of Family Emotional Closeness, Significance of Family Physical Closeness, Importance of Taking Care of Family Members, Importance of Family in Childbirth, and Generational Shifts in Caregiving. Results of the study may influence health interventions for this community, and results should encourage health care providers to consider positive implications of including family and community supports in care.

Healthcare needs and infrastructure obstacles for a state-recognised Indigenous tribe in the United States

Although Indigenous groups continue to experience extensive health disparities, little research explores the role of structural barriers in contributing to health disparities for state-recognised tribes, who do not receive healthcare services from the Indian Health Service. In addition, much research focuses on discrete physical health outcomes, without utilising community-based approaches to allow participants to identify healthcare priorities and needs in their own voices. In partnership with a community advisory board, a qualitative descriptive methodology was used to conduct 31 life-course interviews with participants of a state-recognised tribe in the Gulf South region of the United States to explore healthcare experiences. Participants identified unmet healthcare needs and healthcare infrastructure barriers. Some of the most common barriers and unmet healthcare needs included: Long Distance to Healthcare Services and Difficulty in Accessing Specialists, Need for Increased Communication, Long Hospital or Appointment Wait Times, Unmet Mental Health Needs, Need for Substance Use or Abuse Prevention Programs and Need for Health Education. These findings highlight some of the structural barriers that exacerbate existing health disparities and suggest important areas of intervention, such as including a focus on mental health needs. Increased healthcare resources and recognition of sovereignty for this state-recognised tribe are also needed to begin to address these barriers. In addition, because of the long history of exploitation of Indigenous communities, healthcare interventions should meaningfully include Indigenous tribes in the development and implementation of any healthcare programs.

Rural Patient Experiences of Accessing Care for Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

PURPOSE

Access to health care is a long-standing concern for rural patients; however, administrative measures fail to capture the subjective patient experience of accessing health care. The purpose of this review was to synthesize the qualitative literature on patient and caregiver experiences of accessing health care services for chronic disease management among US residents of rural areas.

METHODS

We searched Embase, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Scopus to identify qualitative studies published during 2010-2019. A thematic synthesis approach was used to analyze findings from included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 62 studies involving 1,354 unique participants were included. The largest share of studies (24.2%) was focused on the experience of patients with cancer, followed by behavioral health (16.1%), HIV and AIDS (14.5%), and diabetes (12.9%). We identified 4 primary analytic themes of barriers and facilitators associated with the experience of accessing health care services for chronic disease management in rural areas: (1) navigating the rural environment, (2) navigating the health care system, (3) financing chronic disease management, and (4) rural life (ie, common elements of a distinct "rural" way of thinking and behaving).

CONCLUSIONS

In this comprehensive review, we found that important cultural, structural, and individual factors influenced the rural patient's experience of health care access and use, including barriers and facilitators posed by geographic and built environments, and distinct rural mores. Our findings can inform policies and programs that both facilitate structural aspects of access and include culturally appropriate interventions.VISUAL ABSTRACT.

Native and Indigenous Populations and Gastric Cancer: A Worldwide Review

Gastric cancer is a worldwide concern, particularly for Indigenous populations who face greater disparities in healthcare. With decreased access to screening and critical treatment delays, this group is experiencing adverse health effects. To determine what factors drive these disparities, a systematic review was performed in PubMed. This revealed a lack of research on gastric cancer specific to this population. The literature primarily focused on subset analyses and biological aspects with sparse focus on determinants of health. The results informed this presentation on factors related to Indigenous gastric cancer, which are influenced by colonialism. Indigenous populations encounter high rates of food shortage, exposure to harmful environmental agents, structural racism in the built environment, H. pylori, and compromised healthcare quality as an effect of colonialism, which all contribute to the gastric cancer burden. Putting gastric cancer into a cultural context is a potential means to respond to colonial perspectives and their negative impact on Indigenous patients. The objective of this manuscript is to examine the current state of gastric cancer literature from a global perspective, describe what is currently known based on this literature review, supplemented with additional resources due to lack of published works in PubMed, and to present a model of gastric cancer through the lens of a modified medicine wheel as a potential tool to counter colonial healthcare perspectives and to honor Indigenous culture.

Exploring access to care from the perspective of patients with breast cancer: A qualitative study

Objectives

Patients face a myriad of personal and system‐based challenges in accessing breast cancer care, but less is known about access as expressed and experienced by patients themselves. The objective of this qualitative study was to further explore the breadth of issues related to access from the perspective of patients with breast cancer across their care journey.

Methods

Twelve women participated in 1‐h semi‐structured interviews and 48 women participated in 2‐h focus groups at six oncology practices in 2018. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data.

Results

Six primary themes emerged concerning access to care: information, psychosocial support, health insurance, financial resources, timeliness, and emotions.

Conclusions

This study identified six core dimensions of access to care. Access encompassed not only gaining entrée to care services—in the traditional sense of access—but also the continuing support needed to effectively use those services throughout the cancer care journey. Future strategies aimed at improving access to breast cancer care should attend to these ongoing patient‐centric and system‐based issues which are mostly amenable to change.

Designing Inclusive HPV Cancer Vaccines and Increasing Uptake among Native Americans-A Cultural Perspective Review

Despite a global and nationwide decrease, Native Americans continue to experience high rates of cancer morbidity and mortality. Vaccination is one approach to decrease cancer incidence such as the case of cervical cancer. However, the availability of vaccines does not guarantee uptake, as evident in the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic. Therefore, as we consider current and future cancer vaccines, there are certain considerations to be mindful of to increase uptake among Native Americans such as the incidence of disease, social determinants of health, vaccine hesitancy, and historical exclusion in clinical trials. This paper primarily focuses on human papillomavirus (HPV) and potential vaccines for Native Americans. However, we also aim to inform researchers on factors that influence Native American choices surrounding vaccination and interventions including cancer therapies. We begin by providing an overview of the historical distrust and trauma Native Americans experience, both past and present. In addition, we offer guidance and considerations when engaging with sovereign Tribal Nations in vaccine development and clinical trials in order to increase trust and encourage vaccine uptake.

Narrative frames as choice over structure of American Indian sexual and reproductive health consequences of historical trauma

Emerging evidence suggests that the historical trauma associated with settler colonialism affects the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of American Indian (AI) communities today. This article examines how one AI community narratively frames the influence of historical trauma within the context of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and the implications of this framing for health behaviours, internalized oppression, SRH outcomes, and future CBPR interventions. We found that AIs framed the SRH consequences of historical trauma with renderings that favoured personal choice over structural explanations. Our findings suggest future interventions could: (1) include educational components on historical trauma and the continued role settler colonialism plays in structural violence against AI bodies and communities; and (2) recognize the role that the individualized logic of westernized/white culture may play in the erasure of traditional collectivist AI culture, internalized oppression, and SRH.

"There Is a Lot of Practice in Not Thinking about That": Structural, Interpersonal, and Individual-Level Barriers to HIV/STI Prevention among Reservation Based American Indians

American Indians (AI) face significant disparities in HIV/STI morbidity and mortality, and historical, structural, interpersonal, and individual level barriers stymie prevention efforts. The objective of this paper is to examine barriers to HIV/STI prevention among reservation-based AI. We conducted face-to-face qualitative interviews with 17 reservation-based AI community leaders and community members in Southern California on HIV/STI knowledge and attitudes and barriers to prevention. The disruption of traditional coping mechanisms and healing processes were compromised by historical trauma, and this allowed stigmas to exist where they did not exist before. This impacted access to healthcare services and trust in medicine, and is linked to individuals adopting negative coping behaviors that confer risk for HIV/STI transmission (e.g., substance use and sexual behaviors). Most of the participants reported that HIV/STIs were not discussed in their reservation-based communities, and many participants had a misperception of transmission risk. Stigma was also linked to a lack of knowledge and awareness of HIV/STI's. Limited available services, remoteness of communities, perceived lack of privacy, and low cultural competency among providers further hindered the access and use of HIV/STI prevention services. These findings highlight the need to address the historical, structural, and interpersonal factors impacting individual-level behaviors that can increase HIV/STI transmission among reservation-based AIs. Prevention work should build on community strengths to increase HIV/STI knowledge, reduce stigma, and increase access to preventative care while using culturally grounded methodologies.

Achieving cervical cancer elimination among Indigenous women

Achieving the World Health Organisation (WHO) cervical cancer elimination target of fewer than four new cases per 100,000 woman-years requires scaling up HPV vaccination of girls, cervical screening, and pre-cancer and cancer treatment. We reviewed data from four high-income colonised countries (Australia, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), and the United States (US)) to identify how each is currently performing compared to the cervical cancer incidence elimination and triple-intervention targets, nationally and in Indigenous women. We also summarise barriers and enablers to meeting targets for Indigenous women. To achieve elimination, cervical cancer incidence must be reduced by 74% in Indigenous women in Australia, and 63% in Maori women in NZ; data were not published in sufficient detail to compare incidence in Indigenous women in Canada or the US to the WHO target. Only Australia meets the vaccination coverage target, but uptake appears comparatively equitable within Australia, NZ and the US, whereas there appears to be a substantial gap in Canada. Screening coverage is lower for Indigenous women in all four countries though the differential varies by country. Currently, only Australia universally offers HPV-based screening. Data on pre-cancer and cancer treatment were limited in all countries. Large inequities in cervical cancer currently exist for Indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US, and elimination is not on track for all women in these countries. Current data gaps hinder improvements. These countries must urgently address their systemic failure to care and provide health care for Indigenous women.

Analysis of Race and Gender Disparities in Incidence-Based Mortality in Patients Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer from 2000 to 2016

Background

Well-differentiated thyroid cancer has better outcomes compared to undifferentiated/anaplastic thyroid cancer. The incidence of well-differentiated thyroid cancer is known to be more in women whereas it is approximately the same in both genders for anaplastic thyroid cancer. The variability of incidence-based mortality across gender in the context of race has not been studied. This study analyzes the rates of incidence-based mortality from the years 2000 to 2016 amongst both the genders in four racial groups.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was utilized to conduct a nation-wide analysis for the years 2000 to 2016. Incidence-based mortality for all stages of well-differentiated and undifferentiated thyroid cancer was queried and the results were grouped by race (Caucasian/White, African American/Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native and Asian/Pacific Islander) and gender. All stages and ages were included in the analysis. Two sample t-test was used to determine statistically significant difference between various subgroups.

Results

Incidence-based mortality rates (per 100,000) for well-differentiated and undifferentiated thyroid cancer for all races and both the genders were calculated. The incidence-based mortality rates for both genders are approximately the same despite a 2–3:1 difference in incidence. Anaplastic thyroid cancer has a higher mortality rate in Caucasian and Asian/Pacific Islander women compared to men despite an equal ratio in incidence. As expected, the mortality rates of anaplastic thyroid cancer were significantly higher compared to well-differentiated cancer across all races and genders. Also, Asian/Pacific Islander women have a higher rate of mortality compared to both the genders of Caucasian and African American races.

Conclusion

Incidence-based mortality for anaplastic thyroid cancer is higher in women in all races whereas there is no difference in mortality between men and women for well-differentiated thyroid cancer. This is divergent from the incidence ratios noted in these malignancies. In the context of increasing incidence of thyroid cancer for the past few decades, this data suggests that additional resources may be devoted to decreasing the disparity of mortality in this gender.

American Indians and Alaska Natives: Resolving Disparate Cancer Outcomes

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) have been documented as a population with high rates of cancer mortality in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. During a time when other populations in the United States are experiencing improvements in cancer outcomes, cancer disparities in AIANs persist. The disparities in cancer outcomes in this diverse population can be attributed to a complex constellation of factors, which include access-to-care, economic, medical, and individual barriers, and mistrust and disenfranchisement.

Cancer Biology and You: An Interactive Learning Event for Native American High School Students to Increase Their Understanding of Cancer Causes, Prevention, and Treatment, and to Foster an Interest in Cancer-Related Careers

The National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation have made a compelling call to action not only to strengthen the pipeline of available STEM-trained talent, but in addition to foster students who are members of populations currently under-represented in science. Furthermore, the scientific community must not only increase the accessibility of STEM-related education, but also implement and test evidence-based practices. Presented here, we detail the proceedings of a hands-on, science-focused informal learning opportunity aimed at educating an underrepresented population in cancer biology. Fifteen undergraduate and graduate student volunteer instructors from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center engaged with 89 high school students, mostly Native American, in an informal learning event called "Cancer Biology and You Day." Throughout the event, students completed two independent lessons focusing on breast cancer and skin cancer and demonstrated strong learning gains associated with the lessons as assessed by KWL charts. Exit surveys of the students indicated high levels of satisfaction with the event, and positive attitudes associated with considering a career in science/research were evident in survey responses. Overall, we report the event as a success and outline how similar experiences may be achieved.

American Indian women cancer survivors' coping with depressive symptoms

OBJECTIVE

Depressive symptoms have been identified as a primary predictor of quality of life among cancer patients. Depression and cancer are co-occurring and disproportionately elevated for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. The purpose of this article is to examine American Indian (AI) women cancer survivors' coping mechanisms for depressive symptoms.

RESEARCH APPROACH

The methodology included a qualitative descriptive approach with conventional content analysis to examine the coping strategies of AI women cancer survivors associated with depressive symptoms. The interview guide was semi-structured and developed in collaboration with a community advisory board (CAB). Data-derived qualitative analysis was used to generate codes inductively from the data.

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of 43 AI women cancer survivors (n = 14 cervical cancer, n = 14 breast cancer, and n = 15 other cancers) from the Northern Plains region, in the state of South Dakota were interviewed. Data were collected from June 2014 to February 2015. Methodological approach: Qualitative content analysis was used for data analysis, which allowed themes to emerge inductively from the data. Analysis revealed 430 preliminary codes. After de-briefing, validation, and discussion among coauthors, these were then sorted into 67 codes. Member checks with all available participants were conducted to minimize misinterpretation.

FINDINGS

A total of 26 participants (62%) indicated they had feelings of depression since their cancer diagnosis. Women coped with depressive feelings by (a) participating in faith traditions; (b) seeking creative and positive outlets; (c) martialing family and social support; and (d) keeping busy with other life activities.

INTERPRETATION

AI women experienced depressive symptoms following a cancer diagnosis and used a variety of positive coping mechanisms to create personal meaning. Implications for Psychosocial Providers or Policy: AI women may need unique support following a cancer diagnosis, and interventions should incorporate AI beliefs and traditions, such as storytelling and talking with family and community members.