Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice
Abstract Background Working effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is important for maximising the effectiveness of a health care interaction between and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and a health professional. This paper presents a framework to guide health p...
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doaj-5c60131143e9400587c5c8002fc48b9a2020-11-25T03:05:50ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632020-07-0120111110.1186/s12913-020-05462-5Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practiceAnnabelle M. Wilson0Janet Kelly1Michelle Jones2Kim O’Donnell3Sandra Wilson4Emma Tonkin5Anthea Magarey6College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders UniversityAdelaide Nursing School, Adelaide UniversityCollege of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders UniversityCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders UniversityAboriginal Primary Health Care UnitCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders UniversityCollege of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders UniversityAbstract Background Working effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is important for maximising the effectiveness of a health care interaction between and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and a health professional. This paper presents a framework to guide health professional practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Methods This qualitative study was based in a social constructionist epistemology and was guided by a critical social research methodology. Two methods were employed: interviews with Aboriginal health workers and allied health professionals about their experiences of working together in Aboriginal health, and an auto-ethnography conducted by the researcher, a non-Aboriginal dietitian and researcher who worked closely with two Aboriginal communities while undertaking this research. Results Interviews were conducted with 44 allied health professionals and Aboriginal health workers in 2010. Critical Social research, which involves the deconstruction and reconstruction of data, was used to analyse data and guided the evolution of themes. Strategies that were identified as important to guide practice when working respectfully in Aboriginal health included: Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working with Aboriginal health workers, using appropriate processes, demonstrating commitment to building relationships, relinquishing control, having an awareness of Aboriginal history, communication, commitment, flexibility, humility, honesty, and persistence. Reciprocity and reflection/reflexivity were found to be cornerstone strategies from which many other strategies naturally followed. Strategies were grouped into three categories: approach, skills and personal attributes which led to development of the Framework. Conclusions The approach, skills and personal attributes of health professionals are important when working in Aboriginal health. The strategies identified in each category provide a Framework for all health professionals to use when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05462-5AboriginalIndigenousHealthRelationshipsHealth professionalWorking together |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Annabelle M. Wilson Janet Kelly Michelle Jones Kim O’Donnell Sandra Wilson Emma Tonkin Anthea Magarey |
spellingShingle |
Annabelle M. Wilson Janet Kelly Michelle Jones Kim O’Donnell Sandra Wilson Emma Tonkin Anthea Magarey Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice BMC Health Services Research Aboriginal Indigenous Health Relationships Health professional Working together |
author_facet |
Annabelle M. Wilson Janet Kelly Michelle Jones Kim O’Donnell Sandra Wilson Emma Tonkin Anthea Magarey |
author_sort |
Annabelle M. Wilson |
title |
Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice |
title_short |
Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice |
title_full |
Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice |
title_fullStr |
Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice |
title_full_unstemmed |
Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice |
title_sort |
working together in aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Health Services Research |
issn |
1472-6963 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Working effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is important for maximising the effectiveness of a health care interaction between and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and a health professional. This paper presents a framework to guide health professional practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Methods This qualitative study was based in a social constructionist epistemology and was guided by a critical social research methodology. Two methods were employed: interviews with Aboriginal health workers and allied health professionals about their experiences of working together in Aboriginal health, and an auto-ethnography conducted by the researcher, a non-Aboriginal dietitian and researcher who worked closely with two Aboriginal communities while undertaking this research. Results Interviews were conducted with 44 allied health professionals and Aboriginal health workers in 2010. Critical Social research, which involves the deconstruction and reconstruction of data, was used to analyse data and guided the evolution of themes. Strategies that were identified as important to guide practice when working respectfully in Aboriginal health included: Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working with Aboriginal health workers, using appropriate processes, demonstrating commitment to building relationships, relinquishing control, having an awareness of Aboriginal history, communication, commitment, flexibility, humility, honesty, and persistence. Reciprocity and reflection/reflexivity were found to be cornerstone strategies from which many other strategies naturally followed. Strategies were grouped into three categories: approach, skills and personal attributes which led to development of the Framework. Conclusions The approach, skills and personal attributes of health professionals are important when working in Aboriginal health. The strategies identified in each category provide a Framework for all health professionals to use when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. |
topic |
Aboriginal Indigenous Health Relationships Health professional Working together |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05462-5 |
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