Patient centred care - cultural safety in indigenous health.
BACKGROUND
The terms 'cultural safety' and 'cultural competence' are used widely in indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse health contexts. They form the basis for effective patient centred care and the professional advocacy role of the general practitioner.


OBJECTIVE
This article discusses the concepts of cultural safety and cultural competence. A checklist of cultural competency practice is also provided for health practitioners.


CONCLUSIONS
Cultural safety is the experience of the recipient of care. It is comparable to clinical safety, allowing the patient to feel safe in health care interactions and be involved in changes to health services. It has been suggested that cultural safety training may be one mechanism to reduce disparities in indigenous health status. Cultural competence is a broader term that focuses on the capacity of the health system to improve health and wellbeing by integrating culture into the delivery of health services.
Nguyen
Hung The
HT
Northern Territory and Honorary Senior Lecturer, CMHSE, Monash University, Victoria. hungt.nguyen@ntgpe.org
D001315:Australia; D054521:Cultural Competency; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*