Co-Creating a Culturally Responsive Distance Education Cancer Course with, and for, Alaska's Community Health Workers: Motivations from a Survey of Key Stakeholders.

To gain input on a proposed culturally responsive, distance-delivered cancer education course informed by empowerment theory and adult-learning principles, Alaska's Community Health Aides/Practitioners (CHA/Ps) and CHA/P leadership were invited to take an online survey in February 2015. The proposed course will be developed as part of the "Distance Education to Engage Alaskan Community Health Aides in Cancer Control" project. The results of the survey demonstrate that respondents are both interested in taking the proposed class and engaging in course development. The results also indicate that respondents have the technological comfort and capacity to be engaged in online learning and have primarily positive experiences and perceptions of distance education. This survey is the beginning of the interactive development of the online cancer education course and part of a continuing endeavor to promote wellness with, and for, Alaska's people by empowering Alaska's CHA/Ps and inspiring positive behavioral change to both prevent cancer and support those who feel its burdens.

Print Material in Cancer Prevention: an Evaluation of Three Booklets Designed with and for Alaska's Community Health Workers.

With increased internet access in rural Alaska and subsequent shifts in access to health information, we sought to understand the current role of printed cancer education booklets focused on recommended cancer screening exams. This evaluation reviewed three cancer education booklets specifically created with and for Alaska's Community Health Workers (CHWs) and the people in their communities. The booklets were created in an adaptation of empowerment theory, focused on working within a community-based participatory framework, in a culturally respectful manner, to shift cancer prevention norms by empowering CHWs to catalyze health behavior change for both themselves and their communities. The booklets incorporated traditional Alaska Native values and were designed to connect with readers at an affective and informational place that emphasized relationships. Since 2010, over 20,000 booklets have been distributed. Between January 2013 and March 2014, CHWs from throughout Alaska were invited to complete a three-page anonymous written evaluation of the booklets during community health trainings in Anchorage, Alaska. A total of 102 CHWs completed evaluations, with the vast majority indicating that they liked (100 %), and learned (96 %) from, the booklets. The evaluation results suggest that printed booklets designed in a culturally responsive manner, which both communicate medically accurate information and reach readers at an affective place to inspire action through raising awareness in relationship with others, are a helpful way to receive, discuss, and disseminate cancer screening information among Alaska Native people.