Linda Burhansstipanov, MPH, DrPH¹, Lisa Harjo, MA², Terri L. Rattler², Rose Lee², and Lisa Castro³. (1) Executive Director, Native American Cancer Research (NACR), 3022 S. Nova Rd, Pine, CO 80470, 303-838-9359, LindaB@NatAmCancer.org, (2) Outreach Worker, Native American Cancer Research, 3022 South Nova Road, Pine, CO 80470-7830, (3) Grants Manager, Native American Cancer Research, 3022 South Nova Road, Pine, CO 80470-7830

Native American Palliative Care was funded by the Denver Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the "The American Indian / Alaska Native Initiative on Cancer" ("Spirit of E.A.G.L.E.S.") [U01 CA86098]. The purpose of the project was to develop and evaluate a culturally acceptable training program for Native American caregivers of dying family members. Module 4 of the “End-of-Life Nursing Education Curriculum” was used as the model. The module was modified by an oncology nurse with extensive experience working in Indian Country, by a Native American cultural expert, pretested through intertribal working groups, reviewed by a scientific panel of experts, and subsequently revised to address the following objectives: (1) Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the family member(s) who are providing end-of-life care to a loved one; (2) Describe quality end-of-life care; (3) Identify potential cultural, ethical and legal issues that may arise in end-of-life care; (4) Describe parts that should be included in a living will and final will and testament; and, (5) Identify selected ways Native cultures perceive death. Each objective involves workshop participant interactive activities (e.g., case studies, write part of their own “advanced directives”). This workshop will present evaluation data from the final pretest (workshop demographics; increases in knowledge with p =.05). Copies of the curriculum slides will be disseminated with the web page by summer 2004.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of the presentation, the session participant will be able to identify at least three cultural concepts that contributed to acceptability of the Native American Palliative Care Curriculum.

Keywords: Death, American Indians

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.