A Culture and Wellness Pilot to Guide Community Engaged Public Health Research in Native American Populations. WMJ 2022 Jul;121(2):153-156
Date
07/21/2022Pubmed ID
35857693Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85134854295 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 1 CitationAbstract
BACKGROUND: Alaskan Native/American Indian (AI/AN) participation in biomedical sciences is often hindered by cultural miscommunication regarding concepts and definitions of health. Identifying culturally contextualized health priorities is crucial to building research collaborations between academic institutions and AI/AN consortia.
METHODS: This article describes pilot data from the development of a culture and wellness questionnaire deployed by the Great Lakes Native American Research Center for Health at cultural events and community engagement meetings. The questionnaire was designed in collaboration with AI/AN members to assess performance indicators of public health promotion in AI/AN populations who are culturally inclined to interpret health holistically.
RESULTS: There were 25 completed questionnaires. Connection to the land (88%) and "giving thanks" (96%) were the most prominently affirmed health and wellness concepts. Participants were least confident (33%) in the ability to support the next generation culturally (language, stories, etc). These results comport with anecdotal data that AI/AN concepts of health and wellness should be co-developed with AI/AN cultural leaders and community members. Future implications for academic partnerships are discussed.
Author List
Dellinger M, O'Keefe G, Poupart A, Stevens D, Thompson S, Meza A, Cassidy LAuthors
Laura Cassidy PhD Associate Dean, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of WisconsinMatthew J. Dellinger PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Health PromotionHumans
Indians, North American
Public Health
Universities