Sangita Sharma
Sangita Sharma, PhD, has just been published in the journal Lancet Oncology, looking at opportunities to improve cancer screening for Aboriginal communities.
Dr. Sharma, Capital Health Chair in Aboriginal Health, leader of the Aboriginal & Global Health Research Group and professor in the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, along with Fariba Kolahdooz, PhD, looked at all published literature on Aboriginal communities in the Northwest Territories, and around the world, to better understand existing barriers and to explore ways to make cancer screening more accessible to Aboriginal communities. Cancer screening and an early diagnosis are important for anyone hoping to overcome cancer. A delayed diagnosis - or cancer that is advanced at the time of diagnosis - often leads to poor clinical outcomes. Because some First Nation communities are remote, timely treatment may be difficult to access. At a time when a patient requires support from friends and family, cancer treatment can mean separation from community support, and time spent traveling to and from treatment centres. In addition, Aboriginal cultures possess beliefs around cancer, which may differ from western medicine. This publication will be the foundation for future work, looking at ways to increase cancer screening participation among all Aboriginal groups.
The publication, titled Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours toward cancer screening in indigenous populations: a systematic review appeared in the October 2014 edition of Lancet Oncology.
Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions (AIHS) President and CEO, Dr. Cy Frank, says, "Thanks to the Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund research like Dr. Sharma's helps define a problem and opens the door to innovations that can improve cancer screening, treatment and prevention approaches in Aboriginal communities in our province."