Table 1.

Key Themes of the Alaska Native Colorectal Cancer Family Outreach Program Process Evaluation, 2012.

Key component	Themes
Program formation	• Incremental approach to program development
Program evolution	• Additional funding used to hire dedicated outreach staff (patient navigators)
	• Improved outreach tracking system and patient materials
	• Improved endoscopic access for patients
Outreach responses	• Increased awareness of colorectal cancer and the need for screening among population served
	• Fear of finding cancer
	• Wanting to prevent cancer by getting screened
	• Needing help navigating the system to get screened
	• Familial support for screening
Strengths	• Geographically and ethnically defined patient population
	• Screening costs covered by Alaska Tribal Health System
	• Support by hospital leadership (Chief of Surgery)
	• Only program collecting this information and using it for outreach among Alaska Native people
	• Dedicated staff time
	• Alaska Native patient navigators who receive intensive training in motivational interviewing and patient outreach techniques
Barriers and challenges	• Culturally heterogeneous population from across state
	• More patients still due for screening
	• Need for more education on benefits of screening (patients)
	• Reliance on grant funding for program operations
	• Need for improved data sharing and reporting in Alaska Tribal Health System