title: Legacy of the Pacific Islander cancer control network.
abstract: The groundwork for the Pacific Islander cancer control network (PICCN) began in the early 1990s with a study of the cancer control needs of American Samoans. The necessity for similar studies among other Pacific Islander populations led to the development of PICCN. The project's principal objectives were to increase cancer awareness and to enhance cancer control research among American Samoans, Tongans, and Chamorros. PICCN was organized around a steering committee and 6 community advisory boards, 2 from each of the targeted populations. Membership included community leaders, cancer control experts, and various academic and technical organizations involved with cancer control. Through this infrastructure, the investigators developed new culturally sensitive cancer education materials and distributed them in a culturally appropriate manner. They also initiated a cancer control research training program, educated Pacific Islander students in this field, and conducted pilot research projects. PICCN conducted nearly 200 cancer awareness activities in its 6 study sites and developed cancer educational materials on prostate, colorectal, lung, breast, and cervical cancer and tobacco control in the Samoan, Tongan, and Chamorro languages. PICCN trained 9 students who conducted 7 pilot research projects designed to answer important questions regarding the cancer control needs of Pacific Islanders and to inform interventions targeting those needs. The legacy of PICCN lies in its advancement of improving cancer control among Pacific Islanders and setting the stage for interventions that will help to eliminate cancer-related health disparities. Cancer 2006. (c) 2006 American Cancer Society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA. fahubbel@uci.edu
authors.forename: F Allan
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Hubbell
authors.forename: Pat H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Luce
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Afeaki
authors.forename: Lee Ann C
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Juliet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McMullin
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mummert
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pouesi
authors.forename: Maria Lourdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Leafa Tuita
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Taumoepeau
authors.forename: Galeai Moali'itele
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tu'ufuli
authors.forename: Lari
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wenzel
mesh_terms: D018948:American Samoa; D035843:Biomedical Research; D019058:Community Networks; D003469:Culture; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014058:Tonga