Aboriginal palliative care video
Research has found that “communication would improve if health professionals learned to listen to the Aboriginal and Torrres Strait Islander story, and let it shape the structure of their own biomedical perceptions” (Cass et al, 2002). GPs and other health professionals can provide alternative communication by using diagrams and pictures to explain disease progression, test results and the cycle of grief.
We have worked with Aboriginal and Palliative Care stakeholders to create a DVD capturing the palliative care experience from an Aboriginal woman’s perspective. Shared ownership of the process with the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative was vital for project success.
Aboriginal people have an oral history and learn via pictorial storytelling; this DVD follows best practice guidelines in health promotion with the most effective way of impacting the ATSI community on essential services and supports that are availble to them throughout the important journey of dying well.
The DVD highlights lessons learnt from the health professional’s perspective as members of a care team. The team incorporated needs for an Aboriginal woman unfamiliar with accessing mainstream health services. Her aboriginality was considered and encompassed throughout the experience as the team came to understand what she needed to care for her husband.
This DVD raises the awareness for health professionals on how they can tailor services to meet the cultural, social, emotional and spiritual needs of an Aboriginal person, and why this is important to closing the health gap for ATSI people.
To arrange a copy of the DVD, please contact michellem@bddgp.org.au.
References
Cass, A. et al. (2002) Sharing the true stories; improving communication between Aboriginal patients and health care workers. Medical Journal of Australia, 176(20), 466-470
