Health care provider and consumer understandings of cultural safety and cultural competency in health care: an Australian study.
There is increasing recognition in Australia that racial and ethnic minority groups experience significant disparities in health and health care compared with the average population and that the Australian health care system needs to be more responsive to the health and care needs of these groups. The paper presents the findings of a year long study that explored what providers and recipients of health care know and understand about the nature and implications of providing culturally safe and competent health care to minority racial and ethnic groups in Victoria, Australia. Analysis of the data obtained from interviewing 145 participants recruited from over 17 different organizational sites revealed a paucity of knowledge and understanding of this issue and the need for a new approach to redress the status quo.
Johnstone
Megan-Jane
MJ
Division of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, RMIT University-Bundoora West Campus, P.O. Box 71, Melbourne VIC 3083, Australia. megan.johnstone@rmit.edu.au
Kanitsaki
Olga
O
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D032882:Comprehension; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014739:Victoria