Rationale for “Cultural” Native Patient Navigators in Indian Country

Excerpt

“Native Navigators and the Cancer Continuum” (NNACC) was a community-based participatory research study awarded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (2008–2014). The partners for the research project were five organizations that have a long history of successful engagement in the American Indian community or are federally recognized tribes. They are Native American Cancer Research Corporation, CO (NACR), Intertribal Council of Michigan, Incorporated, MI (ITCMI), Rapid City Regional Hospital, SD (RCRH), Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, SD (GPTCHB), and Muscogee (Creek) Nation, OK (MCN) (referred to as the “Partners” in this CPBR study). The NNACC study utilized native patient navigators (NPNs) who are lay patient navigators (i.e., none work directly for a clinical setting) from each community setting. The lay NPNs were very successful in implementing education sessions, referring participants to screening and navigating the process when necessary through diagnosis and treatment. …