# American Samoa Indigenous Samoan Partnership to Initiate REsearch Excellence (INSPIRE) in Colorectal Cancer Health Literacy

> **NIH NIH U24** · AMERICAN SAMOA COMMUNITY CANCER COALITIO · 2020 · $398,306

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Very little information regarding the health status of American Samoans are available, and the
research infrastructure in America Samoa (AS) requires a sufficient foundation and capacity
building to conduct large-scale population health research. The purpose of this project is to: (1)
build the research capacity in America Samoa to conduct population health research, and (2) to
support a pilot health research project that aims to increase colorectal cancer screening literacy
among American Samoans so that initial data will be available and serve as the foundation for
future research efforts in America Samoa. This project is a collaborative community and
research engaged effort that reflects the community-identified priorities in AS addressing a
research gaps in health promotion and cancer prevention. The percentage of American
Samoan adults aged 50-75 obtaining CRC screening is far below the US national average, i.e.,
7% of American Samoans vs. 58.2% of US adults. Assessment of health literacy levels has
been recommended in specific populations and to use assessment results in developing
targeted and tailored promotional programs.
The proposed Indigenous Samoan Program to Initiate Research Excellence (INSPIRE) – CRC
Literacy. (INSPIRE) aims to: (1) strengthen research capacity by providing technical assistance
on research protocol, IRB training, and development of an easily accessed cancer data
repository, (2) adapt/pilot the Short form Test of Functional Health Literacy – Adults (STOFHLA)
and administer revision to a representative sample of older adults recruited through Respondent
Driven Sampling methods, and (3) informed by STOFHLA results, develop and implement a
culturally competent, linguistically appropriate, and theory-informed screening intervention, use
of a 2 group pre-post control group comparison, with measurement of Knowledge-Attitude-
Behavior (KAB) survey at several points of evaluation and assessment of the primary outcome
namely, timely completion of Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT). INSPIRE efforts will be led by
the AS Community Cancer Coalition in partnership with LBJ Tropical Medical Center (LBJTMC),
the AS Department of Health and dedicated technical assistance from consultants associated
with the University of Hawai`i and Azusa Pacific University in California, with consultant
expertise in health literacy, RDS, cancer screening research, STOFHLA, community-based
participatory approaches, multi-modal research/evaluation strategies, and history of positive
collaboration with AS partners. This effort should result in increased screening use and
contribute to building a foundation for future translational research. INSPIRE-produced research
is significant for AS because it lays a much needed foundation for systematic public health
research. Further, INSPIRE research will contribute to advancement in the science of health
literacy and health promotions with/for resource-poor, yet tradition-rich Indigenous commun...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9844037
- **Project number:** 5U24MD011202-05
- **Recipient organization:** AMERICAN SAMOA COMMUNITY CANCER COALITIO
- **Principal Investigator:** Luana Scanlan
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $398,306
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9844037

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9844037, American Samoa Indigenous Samoan Partnership to Initiate REsearch Excellence (INSPIRE) in Colorectal Cancer Health Literacy (5U24MD011202-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9844037. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*