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- Title
IMPROVING INDIGENOUS CULTURAL SAFETY COMPETENCES IN TEAMS.
- Authors
Nattrass, Elan
- Abstract
The Canadian health care system, rooted in colonial policies and practices, is hampered by systemic racism and continues to harm Indigenous people (Turpel-Lafond, 2020). To improve the delivery of health services for Indigenous people, change must occur on individual and systems levels. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is a complex system comprised of 14,000 employees, including approximately 180 respiratory therapists who provide comprehensive health care services across a large geographic area. VCH recognizes that widespread Indigenous-specific stereotyping, racism and discrimination exist in the B.C. health care system, and is taking action on many fronts to address the issue as an organization. A research project was initiated seeking an answer to the question, "How might VCH support allied health leaders to improve Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) competencies in themselves and the teams they lead?" The researcher engaged 54 allied health leaders via an anonymous survey (with a 57% response rate) and conducted two subsequent on-line focus groups. The research identified nine initial findings: 1. Leaders are aware of their own, their colleagues', and clinicians' competency gaps. 2. Leaders are taking action and incorporating Indigenous Cultural Safety learning opportunities in variety of ways. 3. Significant barriers to improving Indigenous Cultural Safety competencies exist: a. VCH has identified many organizational priorities and these compete with the time required to complete Indigenous Cultural Safety education. b. There are differing levels of current Indigenous Cultural Safety competencies among leaders and clinicians and that complicates education delivery. c. There is a lack of interpersonal and/or relational connection with ICS subject matter, Indigenous Health partners and the subject matter of systemic racism. 4. Leaders consider it vital to embed Indigenous Cultural Safety learning and the journey toward improving the competencies purposely into daily work for themselves and clinicians. 5. Leaders want Indigenous Cultural Safety to be a highlighted priority. 6. Leaders want to learn and commit to cultural safety improvements as a team. 7. Leaders value a connection to the Indigenous Health team. 8. An Indigenous Cultural Safety competency toolkit and information about upcoming sessions ranked highest among the suggested resources. 9. Leaders have insight into measuring the effects of improved Indigenous Cultural Safety competencies: a. Clinician satisfaction b. Objective performance c. Monitoring course enrollment, completion rates and suggestions for changes d. Collecting data and feedback from patients, clients, residents and Indigenous Patient Navigators. These findings were compared with established peer-reviewed literature on ICS competency improvement strategies and led to six key recommendations that VCH has begun to implement.
- Subjects
PRINCE Edward Island; CULTURAL identity; TRANSCULTURAL medical care; CONFERENCES &; conventions; CULTURAL competence; QUALITY assurance; ABORIGINAL Canadians
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy, 2023, Vol 59, p131
- ISSN
1205-9838
- Publication type
Article