Ka Lŏkahi Wăhine: a culturally based training for health professionals

Native Hawaiian women in Hawai'i suffer the highest breast cancer incidence and death rates among women from Hawai'i's five major ethnic groups. Native Hawaiian women have the third highest breast cancer mortality rate in the nation, following African American and Native American/Alaska Native women. While overall cancer mortality rates in other U.S. populations have improved, epidemiological research shows mortality rates among Native Hawaiians has dramatically increased since 1976. Several barriers prevent Native Hawaiian entry into health care. Frequently cited barriers are: a history of oppression; high prevalence of behavioral risk factors; ineffective screening, prevention and treatment efforts; poor utilization of existing services; poor financial and geographical access to care; an absence of culturally appropriate programs, and few Native Hawaiian health professionals. To address poor health service utilization and to sensitize the health care system in Hawai'i, the Native Hawaiian Breast Cancer Sub-Committee (NHBCSC) of the American Cancer Society Hawai'i Pacific, developed and implemented a culturally based training for health professionals. The training is designed to meet continuing medical and professional education requirements. Professional in-service training began in 2001, with over 300 of Hawai'i's health care professionals participating, to date (March 2004). This training provides a model for other cultural and ethnic groups.