Applying innovative approaches to address health disparities in native populations: An assessment of the crow men's health project

Using a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, the Crow Men's Health Project is a partnership between university researchers and men of the Crow Indian Reservation to address health disparities, particularly cancer risk, screenings and treatments. The objective in using this approach is to establish trust, share power, foster co-learning, and ultimately address community identified needs and health problems. However, application within the context of Native American communities has only recently been studied with only a paucity of evaluative research on the quality and outcome of partnerships. This research details the accomplishments to date of this partnership. The findings and implications of the research illustrate the importance of establishing support by tribal leaders, recognizing the time commitment and potential for conflict with timelines, the significance of creating a trusting environment for health discussions, and the critical role of an Advisory Council to ensure the active participation of the community.