INDIGENOUS AND GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH GROUP
Cancer ACCESS
Cancer ACCESS: Attitudes Towards Cancer in Indigenous Communities & Examining Uptake of Cancer Screening Services
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death amongst Indigenous people living in Northern Canada. However, amongst this population, use of cancer screening services is low and is particularly true in the most remote communities where there are limited health services and facilities. Screening for cancer can lead to earlier detection and a more favorable prognosis. For these reasons, the Cancer ACCESS Project aimed to learn of the thoughts and attitudes toward cancer and cancer screening among Indigenous people living in remote Arctic communities. Additionally, this work identified the barriers that exist to screening, suggested ways to increase cancer screening utilization and, ultimately, strove to improve cancer awareness.
Both scientific methods (interviews and data collection) as well as community focused strategies (the creation of a Community Advisory Board) were utilized. As an initial means of assessing the current literature, a systematic review was published describing the attitudes, beliefs and knowledge of Indigenous peoples towards cancer screening services around the world.
The Inuvik title for the ACCESS project is HOPE – Helping Our People through Education.
The Fort Good Hope title for the ACCESS project is GOBA, which means “light on the horizon”.