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Healing Conversations: Developing a Practical Framework for Clinical Communication Between Aboriginal Communities and Healthcare Practitioners

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Abstract

In recognition of the ongoing health disparities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (hereafter Aboriginal), this scoping review explores the role and impact of the clinical communication process on Aboriginal healthcare provision. A medical education lens is applied, looking at the utility of a tailored clinical communication framework to assist health practitioners work more effectively with Aboriginal peoples and communities. The initial framework, building on existing communication guides, proposes four domains: content, process, relational and environmental. It places emphasis on critical self-reflection of the health practitioner’s own cultural identity and will be guided by collective Aboriginal worldviews in select Australian settings. Using a two-eyed seeing approach the framework will be developed and tested in health professional education. The aim of this research journey is to enable health practitioners to have more effective healthcare conversations with Aboriginal peoples, working toward more socially just and equitable healthcare interactions and outcomes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Andrea McKivett

  2. School of Medicine Fremantle, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia

    David Paul

  3. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Nicky Hudson

  4. University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

    Nicky Hudson

  5. University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Nicky Hudson

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  1. Andrea McKivett
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  2. David Paul
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Correspondence to Andrea McKivett.

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McKivett, A., Paul, D. & Hudson, N. Healing Conversations: Developing a Practical Framework for Clinical Communication Between Aboriginal Communities and Healthcare Practitioners. J Immigrant Minority Health 21, 596–605 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0793-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0793-7

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