Background: Perceptions of disease risk play an important role in adopting healthy behaviors. The main objective of this study is to examine factors associated with high perceived cancer risk among Zuni Adults in New Mexico, USA.
Methods: We used data from a survey conducted in Zuni Pueblo from October 2020 to April 2021.
American Indians (AIs) experience continued disparities in incidence, mortality, and survival on cancers responsive to early screening in the USA. In New Mexico, AIs compared with other racial/ethnic populations are substantially less likely to adhere to recommended screening guidelines. Our study focuses on increasing cancer awareness using culturally, linguistically, and health literacy appropriate informational materials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Family physician (FP)-performed screening colonoscopies can serve as 1 strategy in the multifaceted strategy necessary to improve national colorectal cancer screening rates, particularly in rural areas where specialist models can fail. However, little research exists on the performance of this strategy in the real world. In this study, we evaluated trends in and factors associated with FP-performed screening colonoscopies in the United States between 2016 and 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOver the last two decades, strides in cancer prevention, earlier detection, and novel treatments have reduced overall cancer mortality; however, cancer health disparities (CHD) persist among demographically diverse and intersecting populations. The development of a culturally responsive workforce trained in interdisciplinary, team-based science is a key strategy for addressing these cancer disparities. The Cancer Research - Scholarship and Training Experience in Population Sciences (C-STEPS) program at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is designed to increase and diversify the biomedical and behavioral research workforce by providing specialized and experiential curricula that highlight team-oriented cancer control and population science.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite the effectiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, American Indians (AIs) have low screening rates in the US. Many AIs receive care at Indian Health Services, Tribal, and Urban Indian (I/T/U) healthcare facilities, where published evidence regarding the implementation of CRC screening interventions is lacking. To address this gap, the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center collaborated with two tribally-operated healthcare facilities in New Mexico with the goal of improving CRC screening rates among New Mexico's AI communities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Breast cancer is the leading form of cancer and has the second highest mortality rate of cancers for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. Early screening is critical. This study examines the breast cancer-related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of Zuni women in the Southwest United States (U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe identified preferences toward Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF)-recommended intervention approaches among screen-eligible Zuni Pueblo members in New Mexico, USA and assessed if there were significant differences in those preferences, with the goal of informing the selection of intervention approaches for use in the Zuni Pueblo. We utilize data from a population-based survey (n = 280) focused on 15 CPSTF-recommended intervention approaches designed to improve screening for cervical, breast, and/or colorectal cancer screening. Model-adjusted results suggest some intervention approaches garnered significantly higher support than others.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have some of the lowest cancer screening rates compared to other racial/ethnic populations. Using community-based participatory research methods, we sought to characterize knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and approaches to enhance breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening.
Methods: We conducted 12 focus groups between October 2018 and September 2019 with 96 eligible AI adults and healthcare providers, recruited using non-probability purposive sampling methods from the Zuni Pueblo in rural New Mexico.
American Indian women experience cervical cancer disparities, including later-stage diagnosis and a higher cervical cancer mortality rate. These disparities are interconnected and linked to cervical cancer screening disparities. Cervical cancer when identified early is highly treatable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough strategies to mitigate barriers to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening have proven successful in some parts of the US, few of these strategies have been studied in rural, American Indian communities that may exhibit unique culturally driven attitudes toward and knowledge of colorectal cancer and experience increased barriers to healthcare access. In this study, we describe the results of a survey among CRC screen-eligible members of Zuni Pueblo (N = 218) on an array of questions regarding CRC screening behaviors, knowledge, satisfaction with and access to healthcare services, social support for CRC screening, perceptions toward FOBT, and preference for evidence-based interventions or strategies for improving CRC screening rates. Results from the multivariable model suggest age, having a regular healthcare provider, and harboring fewer negative perceptions toward FOBT are key drivers of ever completing CRC screening.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmerican Indians experience disparities in cancer screening, stage at disease diagnoses, and 5-year cancer survival. This study investigates how health literacy and health numeracy may be linked to cancer screening behaviors of Zuni Pueblo members using a survey exploring screening behaviors related to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. As part of a larger community-based cancer prevention and control project, Zuni Health Initiative staff conducted surveys from October 2020 through April 2021 of 281 participants (men ages 50-75 and women ages 21-75) from the Zuni Pueblo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Sleep has emerged as a potentially modifiable risk factor for obesity in children.
Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the association between overnight sleep duration and obesity among American Indian (AI) children ages 2-5 years.
Methods: Data were examined from the baseline assessment of children enrolling in the Healthy Children, Strong Families study, which is a randomized lifestyle intervention trial in five diverse rural and urban AI communities nationally among children ages 2-5 years.
Background/Aims Few obesity prevention trials have focused on young children and their families in the home environment, particularly in underserved communities. Healthy Children, Strong Families 2 is a randomized controlled trial of a healthy lifestyle intervention for American Indian children and their families, a group at very high risk of obesity. The study design resulted from our long-standing engagement with American Indian communities, and few collaborations of this type resulting in the development and implementation of a randomized clinical trial have been described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Limited research addresses interventions to increase physical activity among American Indian and Hispanic preschool-aged children living in rural areas. We examined the impact of a Head Start-based intervention (Child Health Initiative for Lifelong Eating and Exercise [CHILE]) on physical activity at home. Method Sixteen Head Start centers in predominantly Hispanic or American Indian communities were group randomized to the six-component intervention or a comparison group for 2 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpirituality is central to many Native Americans (NAs) and has been associated with recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). However, no published questionnaire uniquely taps tribal-specific spiritual beliefs and practices. This hinders efforts to integrate traditional NA spirituality into SUD treatment and track spiritual outcomes.
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