Sharing the true stories: improving communication between Aboriginal patients and healthcare workers.
| dc.contributor.author | Cass A. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Lowell A. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Christie M. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Snelling P.L. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Flack M. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Marrnganyin B. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Brown I. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-11-19T05:30:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-11-19T05:30:27Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 2002 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2002-06-11 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Objectives: To identify factors limiting the effectiveness of communication between Aboriginal patients with end-stage renal disease and healthcare workers, and to identify strategies for improving communication. Design(s): Qualitative study, gathering data through (a) videotaped interactions between patients and staff, and (b) in-depth interviews with all participants, in their first language, about their perceptions of the interaction, their interpretation of the video record and their broader experience with intercultural communication. Setting(s): A satellite dialysis unit in suburban Darwin, Northern Territory. The interactions occurred between March and July 2001. Participant(s): Aboriginal patients from the Yolngu language group of north-east Arnhem Land and their medical, nursing and allied professional carers. Main Outcome Measure(s): Factors influencing the quality of communication. Result(s): A shared understanding of key concepts was rarely achieved. Miscommunication often went unrecognised. Sources of miscommunication included lack of patient control over the language, timing, content and circumstances of interactions; differing modes of discourse; dominance of biomedical knowledge and marginalisation of Yolngu knowledge; absence of opportunities and resources to construct a body of shared understanding; cultural and linguistic distance; lack of staff training in intercultural communication; and lack of involvement of trained interpreters. Conclusion(s): Miscommunication is pervasive. Trained interpreters provide only a partial solution. Fundamental change is required for Aboriginal patients to have significant input into the management of their illness. Educational resources are needed to facilitate a shared understanding, not only of renal physiology, disease and treatment, but also of the cultural, social and economic dimensions of the illness experience of Aboriginal people. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Medical Journal of Australia. Vol.176(10), 2002, pp. 466-470. | |
| dc.identifier.doi | https://dx.doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04517.x | |
| dc.identifier.institution | (Cass, Lowell, Christie, Snelling, Flack, Marrnganyin, Brown) Menzies School of Health Research, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, North. Territ. 0811, Australia | |
| dc.identifier.pubmedid | 12065009 [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=12065009] | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://lowitja.intersearch.com.au/handle/1/762 | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | Medical Journal of Australia | |
| dc.subject.keywords | Cultural safety | |
| dc.subject.keywords | Healthcare workforce | |
| dc.title | Sharing the true stories: improving communication between Aboriginal patients and healthcare workers. | |
| dc.type | Article | |
| dc.type.studyortrial | Qualitative study |