Page 16 - Symposium Flip Book_4.14.21

American Indian Cancer Survivors’ Perspectives on

the Cultural Adaptability of the COMFORT

Communication Curriculum: A Pilot Study

Mary J. Isaacson, PhD, RN, CHPN ®1; Victoria LS Britson, PhD, APRN, CNP, FNP-BC ; Tinka Duran, MPH ; Richard Mousseau, MS 3
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1 SDSU, College of Nursing; Avera ECare; Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board

INTRODUCTION DESIGN, METHOD, AND ANALYSIS

• American Indians residing in the Northern Plains DESIGN/METHOD

experience greater cancer burden and higher • Community-based participatory

cancer mortality rates than Whites. approach

• Early implementation of palliative care with • Talking Circle with 7 American

cancer therapy, improves quality of life and life Indian cancer survivors in Western

expectancy. However, access to palliative care South Dakota

for American Indians is severely limited. • Audio-recorded, transcribed

• Palliative care is supportive care designed to verbatim

help those with serious illness to “live well.”

• Little is known regarding culturally-appropriate ANALYSIS

approaches toward introducing and delivering • Content analysis by 2 researchers

culturally-relevant palliative care to this • Member checking conducted with

population. Tribal members.

Purpose: To understand American Indian cancer

survivors’ perspectives regarding the cultural

acceptability and adaptability of a palliative care

communication curriculum.

OBJECTIVES

1. Describe the 7 underlying principles of the

COMFORT Communication Curriculum. RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS

2. Identify American Indian cancer survivors’

views on current palliative and end-of-life

communication with healthcare RESULTS IMPLICATIONS

professionals. • The COMFORT curriculum has great potential for • Healthcare professionals working with American Indians

3. Discuss the opportunities and challenges of cultural adaptation. need to be aware of differing cultural nuances specific to

culturally-adapting a palliative and end-of- • The participants indicated that the following areas palliative and end-of-life care communication.

life care communication curriculum with this extremely important regarding specific

American Indian population. communication approaches: • Greater awareness and incorporation of American Indian

• First meeting cultural norms specific to palliative and end-of-life care

• Delivery of difficult news, communication has the potential to ease the burden of

• Prayer cancer and improve outcomes.

• Time