NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, North Slave Region

Tags: health services, physical health, cancer, cancer screening, Inuit

Objective(s): To determine healthcare provider readiness to implement practice change that can contribute to improved cancer outcomes for First nations, Inuit and Metis peoples in Canada; to support sufficient and appropriate local healthcare provider knowledge and expertise in delivering culturally appropriate cancer control services to indigenous patients, families and communities; and, to develop strong connections between local/community health care providers and cancer control services and delivery.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5242. The objective of the project are to determine healthcare provider readiness to implement practice change that can contribute to improved cancer outcomes for First nations, Inuit and Metis peoples in Canada; to support sufficient and appropriate local healthcare provider knowledge and expertise in delivering culturally appropriate cancer control services to indigenous patients, families and communities; and, to develop strong connections between local/community health care providers and cancer control services and delivery. The project is guided by an Inuit specific Cancer Advisory Committee with representatives with lived/living experience and service providers from across Inuit Nunangat and urban centres where Inuit access care. Through existing networks with health care providers across Inuit Nunangat, Pauktuutit will identify participants and conduct a separate ‘Readiness’ survey. Pauktuutit will be developing and coordinating two community information sessions, one with health care providers and one with community members using a discussion guide. The discussion guide will be used to support and encourage the sharing of lived experiences and organic dialogue. Focus group audio will be recorded on tablets and uploaded to virtual cloud system when Wi-Fi connectivity is available. For service provider interviews/ evaluations the tablets will be provided to individuals for use and will provide increased privacy and confidentiality –all data collected through the tablets will be loaded onto the cloud for ease of accessibility for the research team members located in Southern Canada and for privacy. Engagements will be held in Yellowknife and Inuvik, Northwest Territories as they are hubs for cancer screening and cancer care services for the territory. The audio will be analyzed to pull out themes from the conversations. This will be used to prepare a draft report by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada to Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association about the barriers and readiness for change in the cancer journey for Inuit. Advisory Committee members from ISR will have a chance to review our analysis of the data report is finalized. The research team are in contact with different levels of cancer care and community groups in Northwest Territories and Inuvialuit Settlement Region to ensure the research is safe, ethical and grounded in regional needs and priorities. The team have connected with members from Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Cancer Care Unit, as well as Breast Health/ Cancer Action Group, Co-Chair of the NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group. The research team have connected directly with the Inuvik Cancer Support who has agreed to help coordinate the engagement and possibly collaborate on a shared event with the Inuvik Cancer Support Group members. Coded and raw data will be analyzed and made into a report which will later be made available to the public. Coded data will be made available to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Health and Wellness Department upon request. Intellectual property rights/ownership of data – Full description as noted in the attached Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) with between CINA and Pauktuutit). In summary: Pauktuutit has full research sovereignty and data ownership, as indicated in the DSA. However, Pauktuutit believe that full Inuit governance and agency mean community ownership of data. For the purposes of this project, anonymized data in the form of transcripts, data analysis, final report and other findings will be made available upon request. Audio clips, or additional data that may compromise anonymity and confidentiality will be protected and for use of Pauktuutit and CINA, unless consent is provided. Advisory Committee members from Inuvialuit Settlement Region will have a chance to review the report before publication to offer feedback and input. The research team will follow up with communities and partner organizations to share the results and final reports of the data and inquire if they wish to receive coded data. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 10, 2023 to December 31, 2023.