Table 1.
Demographic Characteristics of the American Indian Participants (n = 23).
| Variable | N/X | %/Range |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Female | 19 | 83% |
| Agea | 61 | 35-84 |
| Education | ||
| 9th – 11th | 7 | 30% |
| High School/GED | 5 | 22% |
| Some Technical Training or College | 8 | 35% |
| College Degree or Higher | 3 | 13% |
| Types of Health Insuranceb | ||
| Indian Health Services | 16 | 70% |
| Medicare, Part A | 12 | 52% |
| Medicare Part B | 8 | 35% |
| Medicaid | 5 | 22% |
| Private Insurance | 4 | 17% |
| Other | 1 | 4% |
| Number of Insurance Types Per Participant | ||
| None | 5 | 22% |
| One Insurance | 10 | 44% |
| Two Insurances | 4 | 17% |
| Three Insurances | 4 | 17% |
| Screening Tests Received | ||
| No Screening Test | 9 | 39% |
| Mammogram | 8 | 35% |
| Mammogram & Pap Smear | 2 | 9% |
| Mammogram, Pap Smear & Colonoscopy | 1 | 4% |
| Pap Smear & Colonoscopy | 1 | 4% |
| Colonoscopy & PSA | 1 | 4% |
| Did not know if received screening test | 1 | 4% |
| Cancer Diagnoses | ||
| Bone | 1 | 4% |
| Breast | 13 | 57% |
| Colon or Rectal | 2 | 9% |
| Esophageal | 1 | 4% |
| Lung | 1 | 4% |
| Kidney | 1 | 4% |
| Ovarian | 1 | 4% |
| Prostate | 1 | 4% |
| Thyroid | 1 | 4% |
| Uterine | 1 | 4% |
| Diagnosed | ||
| Less than 1 year ago | 2 | 9% |
| 1-5 years | 21 | 91% |
| Symptoms Experienced Prior to Diagnosis | ||
| None | 5 | 22% |
| 1 week or less | 4 | 17% |
| More than a week, less than a month | 3 | 13% |
| 1 month, less than 4 | 4 | 17% |
| 4 months, less than 12 | 1 | 4% |
| A year or more | 6 | 26% |
| Referred to Cancer Specialist (N=23) | ||
| Yes | 19 | 83% |
| Physician-Patient Communication (N=23)c | ||
| Physician made sure patient understood condition | 22 | 96% |
| Physician made sure patient knew what to do next | 21 | 91% |
| Physician listened seriously to health concerns | 21 | 91% |
| Patient felt comfortable talking to physician | 22 | 96% |
| Physician treated them with dignity | 22 | 96% |
| Participants Receiving Treatment (N=21)d | ||
| No barriers reported | 14 | 67% |
| Lacked insurance | 2 | 10% |
| Treatment not covered by insurance | 1 | 5% |
| Health needs of another family member | 1 | 5% |
| No one at clinic available to answer questions | 5 | 24% |
| Drove more than 8 hours roundtrip for treatment | 5 | 24% |
| Treatment not available locally | 1 | 5% |
| Cancer Treatments Received (N=21)d | ||
| Alternative Therapies | 2 | 10% |
| Bone Marrow Transplant | 1 | 5% |
| Chemotherapy | 12 | 57% |
| Hormonal Therapy | 3 | 14% |
| Radiation | 8 | 38% |
| Surgery | 18 | 86% |
| Traditional American Indian Medicine | 3 | 14% |
a
Mean and range are reported for this variable.
b
The percentages for this variable do not total 100%, as some participants specified more than one type of insurance.
c
Each of the statements listed in this subsection are separate variables.
d
The percentages for this variable do not total 100%, as some participants specified more than one barrier or type of treatment.