328259
Design, measure and evidence: The funding-practice disconnect of substance abuse prevention in Native communities
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Julie Baldwin, PhD,
Health Equity Research Group, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
Mario Hernandez, PhD,
Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Rates of substance use and abuse continue to remain high in numerous American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities, leading to increased health disparities. Although evidence-based substance abuse prevention interventions may be effective for some AI/ANs, wide spread efficacy has not been demonstrated. A recent qualitative study of Native and non-Native substance abuse prevention researchers (N = 22) and a content analysis of participant authored publications (N = 47) found that current funding mechanisms are often not meeting the needs of AI/AN communities. These gaps are frequently due to use of inadequately created measures, inappropriate research designs, and culturally discordant evaluation methods. As demonstrated in this study, ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to substance abuse prevention programming may not be appropriate for AI/AN communities. Interviewed researchers reported that current funding mechanisms were not reflective of or responsive to the needs of these communities. Recommendations included: using community-based-evidence and practice based evidence in lieu traditional forms of evidence; creating research designs to align more with community-based participatory research (CBPR) designs; designing measures to attenuate the cultural and historical contexts of AI/AN communities; and creating evaluation designs to match the culture and needs of AI/AN communities. Further, funding agencies must be made aware of the challenges associated with conducting substance abuse prevention research with AI/AN communities and ensuring the creation of sustainable interventions.
Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Identify challenges associated with implementing substance abuse prevention programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Discuss recommendations for improvement related to funding requirements for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Keyword(s): Evidence-Based Practice, Native Americans
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conceptualized and conducted all the of the research to be presented. My research interest area is in evaluation, substance abuse prevention, and health disparities associated with Native communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
