Abstract IA32: Policy and Environmental Strategies to Reduce Cancer Risk Factors in Tribal Nations: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Abstract Cancer is a pressing public health and economic concern in Native American Tribal Nations. The Institute of Medicine has identified policy and environmental interventions (e.g., calorie labeling, smoking bans) as critical to reducing and controlling cancer risk factors, particularly obesity and tobacco use. Because of their sovereign status, Tribal Nations are uniquely positioned to implement such interventions, yet few have been reported upon in the scientific literature, hindering the scale-up and dissemination of effective interventions and even worsening disparities. This presentation will identify the current status and impact of policy and environmental interventions to address and control obesity and smoking in Native American Nations, identify and discuss barriers, what is gaining momentum, and what can be done to move toward action. Citation Format: Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan. Policy and Environmental Strategies to Reduce Cancer Risk Factors in Tribal Nations: Challenges and Opportunities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA32.