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Culturally informed, codesigned, supportive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer and their families

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 14:05 authored by Carolyn Lethborg, Halatanu, F, Mason, T, Posenelli, S, Cleak, H, Braddy, L
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience significant disparities in accessing cancer care and in cancer outcomes when compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Social workers and Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers from an inner-city hospital partnered with local Aboriginal organisations to develop, implement, and evaluate a culturally informed model of supportive cancer care. The initiative adopted an “appreciative inquiry” approach and engagement with Indigenous stakeholders, drawing on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Quality Improvement Framework and Toolkit for Hospital Staff (AQIFTHS, 2015). Using a process of codesign, strategies were developed with consumers to address the social and cultural determinants of health across the cancer journey. The new evidence-based model of care incorporated culturally informed identification of needs, culturally appropriate engagement, and maintenance of respectful connections to develop codesigned care plans with tailored information and provide practical support and advocacy. Findings illustrate the complex challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with cancer as well as their strengths. AQIFTHS processes and model of care provide guidance for social workers and other health professionals seeking to partner with stakeholders to promote health equity and improve supportive cancer care in accordance with optimal care guidelines and national quality standards.

History

Publication title

Australian Social Work

Volume

75

Pagination

165-179

ISSN

1447-0748

Department/School

School of Health Sciences

Publisher

Routledge

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

© 2021 Australian Association of Social Workers.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Health inequalities; Evaluation of health and support services not elsewhere classified; Health status (incl. wellbeing)

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