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Partnerships for Native Health Washington State University

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Summer Research Training Institute

Members of our staff recently enjoyed three rewarding and productive weeks at the Summer Research Training Institute in Portland, Oregon. Housed at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, funded by the National Institutes of Health, and co-sponsored by the Center for Healthy Communities at the Oregon Health & Science University, the Summer Institute features an intensive three-week curriculum designed for professionals working in American Indian and Alaska Native health. This year it ran from June 13 to July 1. » More …

Staying in the Circle of Life: A Curriculum for Cancer Survivors

PrintStaying in the Circle of Life: A Curriculum for Cancer Survivors

In 2013, Partnerships for Native Health conducted a needs assessment by interviewing community healthcare workers who serve partner tribes throughout Washington State. Approximately 80% of those interviewed expressed needs for a program of support for cancer survivors, as well as training for program facilitators. To address these needs, staff at our organization collaborated with Dr. Rachel Ceballos of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to develop a culturally relevant survivorship program that includes a curriculum for support groups. These materials were tailored for American Indians and Alaska Natives from a program that Dr. Ceballos originally created for Latino communities in eastern Washington.

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Caring Texts

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Caring Texts

Suicide is at crisis levels in Native youth and young adults. A key goal of suicide prevention is building social connections with suicidal people. Caring Contacts is a suicide prevention program that supplements standard healthcare by promoting human connectedness. It involves sending messages that express care, concern, and interest to suicidal people. It is the only intervention shown to prevent suicide in any population. We adapted this approach to design Caring Texts, an intervention that uses text messages to prevent suicide in Native youth. We are conducting a randomized controlled trial of Caring Texts in 1,200 high-risk Native people aged 18-34 years. Study sites include communities in Alaska, the Rocky Mountain region, and the Great Plains.

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Rhythm and Timing Project

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Rhythm and Timing Project

American Indians have a high incidence of cerebrovascular disease, which affects cognition, attention, memory, and other aspects of brain function. Therefore, substantial numbers of Native elders can benefit from treatment to improve brain function. This intervention study uses Interactive Metronome (IM) therapy to treat Native elders with cerebrovascular disease. IM is a computer-based system that uses a steady beat to recondition the brain and improve cognitive and motor function. Our planned study sample consists of 180 American Indians aged 68 to 80 years. We will test the effects of IM on cognitive function and health-related quality of life in this group of Native elders.

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Family Intervention in the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing (FITSMI)

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Family Intervention in the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing (FITSMI)

The prevalence of stroke is higher in American Indians and Alaska Natives than in any other U.S. racial or ethnic group. Native people tend to be younger at stroke onset than non-Hispanic Whites, and they have poor post-stroke survival. In addition, Native people bear a disproportionate burden of stroke risk factors, including high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and diabetes. However, no rigorous, population-based studies of stroke prevention have included Native participants. With our partners, we designed the Family Intervention in the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing (FITSMI), which is delivered at the household level. This intervention encourages lifestyle changes that will transform the home environment and reduce stroke risk for all household members. FITSMI uses a “talking circle” format in which facilitators guide participants to identify goals for change and then create a tailored plan to reach them. Goals typically address smoking, exercise, diet, and medication adherence. FITSMI requires just two household sessions scheduled one month apart. After the first session, text messages are sent to participants to boost their adherence to household goals. In a group-randomized trial design, we are recruiting 360 households. Half of them are randomly assigned to the FITSMI intervention, and the other half are assigned to the control condition, in which they simply receive educational brochures. All household residents aged 11 years and older are eligible for participation.

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Rewarding Recovery Project

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Rewarding Recovery Project

American Indians are disproportionately affected by alcohol and drug abuse. Contingency management (CM) is a treatment approach in which patients receive tangible rewards for abstaining from alcohol and drug abuse. Most previous evaluations have shown that the effect sizes of CM interventions are among the largest of all mental health and behavioral interventions. Our goal is to determine whether a culturally appropriate CM treatment program leads to reductions in alcohol and drug abuse on two American Indian reservations. Phases 1 and 2, which included focus groups with providers and patients, have been completed at both sites. Phase 3, which is a randomized controlled trial of CM for alcohol and drugs, is now in progress. As of June 2016, we have successfully consented 30 participants.

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Biobanking in Native Communities

Biobanking in Native Communities

Biobanking refers to the process of storing human tissue for use in health research. These tissue samples are known as biospecimens. Rapid advances in the genetic analysis of biospecimens have the potential to improve treatments for chronic disease. However, many American Indian and Alaska Native communities have a well-documented legacy of mistrust for health research, especially research involving biospecimens and genetic analysis. Our study has two closely related aims. The first is to offer culturally relevant education to Native communities on biobanking and measure any changes in community knowledge, attitudes, or beliefs. The second is to hear community members’ opinions and concerns regarding the ownership and appropriate use of biospecimens, as well as the relation between individual rights and tribal regulation.

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KaHOLO: Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Native Hawaiians

KaHOLO: Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Native Hawaiians

The KaHOLO project was designed to reduce blood pressure in Native Hawaiians by promoting the practice of traditional forms of dance. Chronic high blood pressure – also known as hypertension – is a serious risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians are 70% more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to suffer a stroke. They also develop heart disease about 10 years earlier than people in other racial and ethnic groups. Based on halau hula training, the KaHOLO project was developed by biomedical scientists in collaboration with Kumu Hula (traditional hula teachers). This project is a five-year effort to assess whether traditional Hawaiian practices can re-establish health and well-being. It consists of a physical activity intervention in which participants dance the hula and receive education on heart health. Participants will attend hula classes for six months and receive coaching on how to make healthy changes a permanent part of their lives.

 

KaHOLO is a collaboration between the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the University of Hawaii and Partnerships for Native Health at Washington State University. The researchers have brought this program from Hawaii to benefit Native Hawaiians living in Washington State. Very few public health programs in Washington address the health needs of Pacific Islander communities. This is the first time that Partnerships for Native Health has offered such a program. Recruitment of participants has already started. In August we will begin classes in the cities of Tacoma and Federal Way in Washington.

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Dietary Intervention for Hypertension

Dietary Intervention for Hypertension

Compared to other races, American Indians experience a heavier burden of risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure (hypertension), Type 2 diabetes, and smoking. Medications are widely prescribed to lower blood pressure. However, adopting low-sodium, heart-healthy diets – collectively known as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) – has been shown to lower blood pressure with or without medication. In addition, these evidence-based dietary approaches can be more cost-effective and sustainable than daily medication. The basic DASH diet is simple. It calls for eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while cutting back on foods high in salt. Researchers with Partnerships for Native Health recently launched a study to test the effectiveness of the DASH diet in two urban Native populations. The overall study name is Diet Intervention for Hypertension: Adaptation and Dissemination to Native Communities. We will conduct a randomized controlled trial at each urban site to compare outcomes in two different study groups.