Identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status by general practice registrars: Confidence and associations.
BACKGROUND
Identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status in healthcare settings is essential for the delivery of culturally appropriate care. Under-identification is common and practitioner confidence is a known barrier.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research was to document the self-reported confidence of general practice registrars in identifying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status of their patients, and associations of this confidence.


METHODS
This research used cross-sectional analysis of survey and patient encounter data of general practice registrars training across five Australian states.


RESULTS
Of the 698 registrars (97.5% response rate) who participated in the study, 74.5% had a high level of confidence in identifying a patient's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status. Older and more senior registrars had significantly greater confidence. There was also a significant association with the registrars' training provider.


CONCLUSIONS
More than a quarter of registrars reported low confidence for this basic consultation skill. Our findings will inform general prac-tice vocational training and continuing professional development, and reinforce the importance of a comprehensive, system-wide approach to the identification of patients' Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status.
MBBS, MPH, FRACGP, General Practitioner and Medical Educator, General Practice Training - Valley to Coast, Newcastle, NSW.
Simon
S
Morgan
Allison
A
Thomson
Peter
P
O'Mara
Amanda
A
Tapley
Kim
K
Henderson
Mieke
M
van Driel
John
J
Scott
Neil
N
Spike
Lawrie
L
McArthur
Parker
P
Magin
D001315:Australia; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*