Cervical Cancer 2010-2019: An Upper Midwest Catchment of 40,000 Square Miles.

Objectives: American Indian (AI) women have a higher incidence and mortality from cervical cancer than non-Hispanic White (NHW) women in the US. This article's purpose is to detail the clinical events in the cervical cancer prevention continuum among the AI and White women with cervical cancer on the US frontier.

Materials And Methods: A cancer center with a nearly 40,000 square-mile catchment area maintained a detailed cancer registry connected to the clinic records of all cervical cancer patients between 2010-2019.

Global Workforce and Access: Demand, Education, Quality.

There has long existed a substantial disparity in access to radiotherapy globally. This issue has only been exacerbated as the growing disparity of cancer incidence between high-income countries (HIC) and low and middle-income countries (LMICs) widens, with a pronounced increase in cancer cases in LMICs. Even within HICs, iniquities within local communities may lead to a lack of access to care.

Sensitivity of US Preventive Services Task Force and PLCOm2012 lung cancer screening eligibility criteria in individuals with lung cancer in South Dakota self-reporting as Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Screening individuals who are at elevated risk using low-dose computed tomography reduces lung cancer mortality by ≥20%. Individuals who have community-based factors that contribute to an increased risk of developing lung cancer have high lung cancer rates and are diagnosed at younger ages.

Increasing Lung Cancer Screening for High-Risk Smokers in a Frontier Population.

Northern Plains American Indians (AIs) have some of the highest smoking and lung cancer mortality rates in the USA. They are a high-risk population in which many are eligible for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening, but such screening is rarely used. This study investigated methods to increase LDCT utilization through both a provider and community intervention to lower lung cancer mortality rates.

The Impact of Within-Consultation and Preconsultation Decision Aids for Localized Prostate Cancer on Patient Knowledge: Results of a Patient-Level Randomized Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the role of timing (either before or during initial consultation) on the effectiveness of decision aids (DAs) to support shared-decision-making in a minority-enriched sample of patients with localized prostate cancer using a patient-level randomized controlled trial design.

Methods: We conducted a 3-arm, patient-level-randomized trial in urology and radiation oncology practices in Ohio, South Dakota, and Alaska, testing the effect of preconsultation and within-consultation DAs on patient knowledge elements deemed essential to make treatment decisions about localized prostate cancer, all measured immediately following the initial urology consultation using a 12-item Prostate Cancer Treatment Questionnaire (score range 0 [no questions correct] to 1 [all questions correct]), compared to usual care (no DAs).

Results: Between 2017 and 2018, 103 patients-including 16 Black/African American and 17 American Indian or Alaska Native men-were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive usual care (n = 33) or usual care and a DA before (n = 37) or during (n = 33) the consultation.

Innovation in a Crisis: Lessons Learned from the Rapid Development of an End-of-Life Palliative Care Unit during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 strained our nation's hospitals and exposed gaps in care. As COVID-19 surged in Boston in March 2020, we worked to rapidly create a Palliative Care Compassion Unit (PCCU) to care for those dying of COVID-19 or non-COVID-19-related illnesses. The PCCU provided interdisciplinary end-of-life care, supported families, and enabled surge teams to focus on patients needing life-sustaining treatments.

A randomized trial to reduce smoking among American Indians in South Dakota: The walking forward study.

Background: Lung cancer is an important public health issue, particularly among American Indians (AIs). The reported decline in tobacco use for most racial/ethnic groups is not observed among AIs. This project was designed to address the research question, "Why don't more Northern Plains American Indians alter tobacco use behaviors known to increase the risk of cancer?"

Methods: Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, a multi-component intervention study was implemented.

Assessing HPV and Cervical Knowledge, Preference and HPV Status Among Urban American Indian Women.

Introduction: To evaluate whether or not an educational intervention would lead to a change in knowledge and attitudes about human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccines, and cervical cancer. The HPV status was also investigated for interested participants.

Methods: We provided HPV and cervical cancer education to urban American Indian (AI) women 18 and older using a pre and post-knowledge exam to assess knowledge and attitudes.

Reality Versus Grant Application Research "Plans".

This article describes the implementation of the American Indian mHealth Smoking Dependence Study focusing on the differences between what was written in the grant application compared to what happened in reality. The study was designed to evaluate a multicomponent intervention involving 256 participants randomly assigned to one of 15 groups. Participants received either a minimal or an intense level of four intervention components: (1) nicotine replacement therapy, (2) precessation counseling, (3) cessation counseling, and (4) mHealth text messaging.

A pre-post survey analysis of satisfaction with health care and medical mistrust after patient navigation for American Indian cancer patients.

Purpose: To assess the impact of patient navigation (PN) on satisfaction with health care and medical mistrust among American Indians (AI) undergoing cancer treatment.

Methods: This was a pre-post cohort survey study of 52 AI cancer patients who participated in a culturally-tailored PN program during their cancer treatment. Surveys were administered prior to and after cancer treatment assessing medical mistrust and satisfaction with health care using two Likert-type scales.

Assessing cancer stage and screening disparities among Native American cancer patients.

Objective: Disparities in cancer-related health outcomes exist among Native Americans. This article assesses barriers to timely and effective cancer care among Native American cancer patients.

Methods: We conducted a community-based participatory survey of newly diagnosed cancer patients to assess their basic knowledge of cancer screening and their beliefs about cancer management.

Medical mistrust and less satisfaction with health care among Native Americans presenting for cancer treatment.

Purpose: To assess barriers to cancer care among Native Americans, whose health outcomes compare unfavorably with those of the general U.S. population.

Establishing a patient navigator program to reduce cancer disparities in the American Indian communities of Western South Dakota: initial observations and results.

Background: American Indians (AIs) in the Northern Plains region suffer disproportionately high cancer mortality rates compared with the general US population and with AIs from other regions in the United States.

Methods: The National Cancer Institute developed the Cancer Disparity Research Partnership to address these inequities. This initiative in Rapid City, South Dakota, attempts to lower cancer mortality rates for AIs by access to innovative clinical trials, behavioral research, and a genetic study.