Online Exclusive Article

Developing Cancer-Related Educational Content and Goals Tailored to the Comanche Nation

Valerie S. Eschiti

Jana Lauderdale

Linda Burhansstipanov

Stacey Weryackwe-Sanford

Leslie Weryackwe

Yvonne Flores

medically underserved, health disparities, cancer program development/evaluation, cultural aspects, patient/public education
CJON 2014, 18(2), E26-E31. DOI: 10.1188/14.CJON.E26-E31

Cancer-related educational content and goals should be modified to the needs of Native Americans to ensure adherence to healthy lifestyles. The current article describes the development of cancer-related educational modules that include creating behavioral goals specific to the people of the Comanche Nation. A community-based participatory research approach was used to conduct focus groups in the Comanche Nation and obtain feedback related to cancer-related educational modules and behavioral goals. Content analysis, verbatim transcriptions, field notes, and observations were used to analyze data and create five major themes. Comanche people need cancer educational modules and goals tailored to their culture to become engaged and maintain interest, thereby improving the likelihood of increasing cancer-related knowledge. Oncology nurses should respect guidance provided by Comanche community members to adapt cancer-related education materials and processes, as well as goal development, to address cultural concepts. When Comanche community members become knowledgeable and work toward healthy behavioral change, cancer health disparities may decrease.

Members Only
Not a current ONS member or journal subscriber?

Purchase This Article

Receive a PDF to download and print.