A window into pain: American Indian cancer survivors' drawings.

In order to explore the cultural constructs of pain, a series of focus groups were held among adult American Indian (AI) cancer survivors and their caregivers in the Southwest USA. Thirteen focus groups held at four sites (reservation, urban setting, hospital and clinic) elicited information on the barriers to cancer pain management. In response to facilitator questions about cancer pain and existing measurement scales, participants drew pictures to better explain their pain type (i.

Cancer-Related Symptom Management Intervention for Southwest American Indians.

There is limited literature related to culturally embedded meanings of cancer and related symptoms among American Indians. A culturally appropriate intervention to improve management of cancer-related symptoms, including pain, depression, fatigue and loss of function, was tested. Two-hundred and twenty-two adult American Indians with cancer were recruited from eight Southwest sites for a randomized clinical trial.

We Don't Talk about It: Cancer Pain and American Indian Survivors.

Pain is a common symptom among cancer survivors, yet is rarely talked about by American Indians. Understanding the reasons for reduced communication by American Indian cancer survivors is important for healthcare providers, family members, and others providing treatment and support for cancer symptoms. Thirteen focus groups with Southwest American Indian adult cancer survivors were audiotaped and transcribed as part of a randomized intervention to remove barriers to cancer symptom management.

Culture-broker and medical decoder: contributions of caregivers in American Indian cancer trajectories.

Background: Caregivers play a special role in the management and control of cancer-related pain. For American Indians with cancer, caregivers can contribute to patient education, medication compliance, and can facilitate communication between the patient and the provider and the patient and the family.

Objective: To identify the role(s) of caregivers of American Indian cancer survivors.

The cultural constructs of cancer-related fatigue among American Indian cancer survivors.

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom experienced by cancer survivors. Persistent fatigue can last years after cancer treatment. CRF's origin is unknown, and there are no validated treatments.

Shared and unshared barriers to cancer symptom management among urban and rural American Indians.

Purpose: Before the end of the 20th century, American Indians (AIs) primarily resided in nonmetropolitan areas. Shifting demographic trends have led to a majority of AIs now living in urban areas, leading to new health care barriers for AIs. AIs experience the poorest survival from all cancers combined compared to all other racial groups.

HPV awareness among American Indian young adults: implications for health education.

A lack of information about American Indians' awareness and knowledge regarding the human papillomavirus (HPV) exists. This study conducted focus groups among American Indian college students in the Southwest to assess HPV awareness. Fifty-three students participated in the study.

"Weaving balance into life": Development and cultural adaptation of a cancer symptom management toolkit for Southwest American Indians.

Introduction: Self-management of cancer symptoms has the potential to decrease the suffering of cancer survivors while improving their health and quality of life. For many racial/ethnic groups, culturally appropriate self-management instruction is not readily available. This paper reports on the first symptom management toolkit developed for American Indian cancer survivors.