The health status of American Indians in California is well below national averages and has been for many years. Identified health problems include a pattern of social problems, poverty, and chronic diseases that is unparalleled among ethnic and racial minorities in the U.S. Such long term chronic diseases as diabetes, and tuberculosis are significant threats. Obesity is a serious problem and at 40% cigarette smoking is double the California average. Alcoholism accidence and violence are recorded as the leading causes of inpatient and outpatient care. American Indians have one of the highest mortality and lowest 5 year survival rates for cervical cancer compared to other ethnic groups. This population also utilizes less cancer screening, and even when screening is obtained, those Indian patients with abnormal findings are frequently lost to follow-up. California has the second largest number of Indians in the U.S. The majority of Indians who reside in rural communities live on or near the 85 reservations/rancherias and obtain their medical care at one of the 23 rural Indian health clinics. The urban Indian population consists largely of Indians from other states who were relocated under Federal programs to California in the 1950s. The goal of this project is to design, implement and evaluate, a community-based health care model for American Indian families which incorporates culturally appropriate approaches to primary and secondary disease prevention. Our target population is American Indians residing in rural counties throughout the State of California. In Phase I of this three phase study, a needs assessment will be conducted in order to identify the health needs of and health services used by the target population. Data will be collected from adult Indians age 18 and over. The sampling frame will be constructed from lists of patients attending rural Indian clinics. In Phase II, a randomized clinical trial will be implemented. Clinic sites will be matched in pairs according to site, geographic location, and size. They will be randomized into intervention sites, participating in a series of Wellness Talking Circles and control sites receiving usual care. Phase III will consist of data analysis and evaluation. The leadership of this team includes American Indian investigators experienced in cancer control research and knowledgeable in the provision of culturally sensitive care.
| Hodge, Felicia; Stemmler, M Susan; Nandy, Karabi (2014) Association between Obesity and History of Abuse among American Indians in Rural California. J Obes Weight Loss Ther 4: |
| Hodge, Felicia S; Nandy, Karabi (2011) Predictors of wellness and American Indians. J Health Care Poor Underserved 22:791-803 |
| Hodge, Felicia S; Cantrell, Betty Geishirt; Kim, Soeun (2011) Health status and sociodemographic characteristics of the morbidly obese American Indians. Ethn Dis 21:52-7 |
| Hodge, Felicia; Nandy, Karabi (2011) Factors associated with American Indian cigarette smoking in rural settings. Int J Environ Res Public Health 8:944-54 |
| Hodge, Felicia S; Sinha, Karabi (2010) Safer Sexual Practices and HIV Screening Behavior among Rural California American Indians. Calif J Health Promot 8:10-21 |
| Hodge, Felicia Schanche; Kotkin-Jaszi, Suzanne T (2009) California Wellness Study: American Indians and Obesity. Calif J Health Promot 7:118-124 |
| Hodge, Felicia Schanche (2009) Breast Cancer-Screening Behavior among Rural California American Indian Women. Am Indian Cult Res J 33:35-42 |
| Hodge, Felicia Schanche; Pasqua, Anna; Marquez, Carol A et al. (2002) Utilizing traditional storytelling to promote wellness in American Indian communities. J Transcult Nurs 13:6-11 |
