ABSTRACT
In 2003, the University of Hawai'i Department of Family Medicine and Community Health entered a 4-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to establish the "Pacific Association for Clinical Training" (PACT). PACT's goal is to develop effective distance education methods to improve the education and skills of health care professionals in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Island nations. To determine the situation existing in 2004, one of PACT's first projects was to perform site visits to each jurisdiction, conducting needs assessments through interviews with key healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, and government officials. This article highlights findings of PACT's Assessment of Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia. Meant to establish a baseline for future reference, all data are those collected in 2004/2005 and have not been updated.
Subject(s)
Education, Continuing/methods , Education, Distance/methods , Health Personnel/education , Needs Assessment , Clinical Competence , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Micronesia , Pacific Islands , Staff Development , United StatesABSTRACT
A cancer needs assessment, funded by the National Cancer Institute, was conducted in Pohnpei State (Pohnpei), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Findings revealed that cancer is the third leading cause of death in Pohnpei, yet cancer-related awareness, prevention, detection, and treatment services are limited. A number of needs were identified, and an action plan was developed based on five priority areas: 1) increasing community awareness about cancer (especially, cervix, breast, liver and lung) and related risk factors; 2) securing funding for cancer prevention and control planning and activities; 3) establishing a fully staffed cancer prevention and control office; 4) building local capacity for cancer cytology; and 5) increasing capacity to obtain and process lab specimens for high-risk patients.
