Reflection on Cultural Competent Care

This essay reflects on the importance of cultural competent care and the challenges faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia. It discusses the health issues prevalent in these communities and the barriers to accessing healthcare. The essay also suggests strategies for providing culturally competent care to improve health outcomes.

Running head: REFLECTION ON CULTURAL COMPETENT CARE
REFLECTION ON CULTURAL COMPETENT CARE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Introduction:
Culturally competent and patient centred care can be defined as the patient centred
care in which the respective patient is treated according to the belief respective to their
culture as well values and tradition (Renzaho et al., 2013). This is particularly important to
the community whose tradition, belief, and daily activities are very much intertwined with
their cultural values and belief. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the
Australian continent is among one of them. I found out from the research process that the
culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is totally different from the culture
of non- aboriginal Australians. Therefore I suggest that the particular attention is required and
care while they are getting treated in the medical health care treatment (Douglas et al., 2014).
For instance, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people believed in the concept of
‘Social and Emotional well- being’ which is vastly different from the general concept of
health of the health. The concept of social and emotional well- being is deals with a complete
welfare of an individual’s spiritual, physical, and mental well- being. Not only that, it also
considers the related risk factors which might cause an illness in an individual. They also
reluctant to avail modern health care system due to the difference in the concept of the culture
between the two communities. Therefore, I have seen that these people are susceptible to the
fatal disease which can be treated with modern medicine and techniques. Hence, there is a
particular need for culturally competent patient centred care practice for the patient belonging
to this community. Thus, the aim of this essay is to reflect upon the issues this community
might be facing as well as how to provide culturally competent care service to this patient.
The population group that I have chosen for this purpose are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people who live in a remote area in the Australian continent (Gee et al., 2014).
Discussion:

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population consists of only 3 per cent of the total
Australian population, however, mortality and incidence rate of the fatal diseases among
these people are very high while comparing with the non- aboriginal Australians.
Consequently they are suffering from many health issues in the communities who particularly
lives in the remote areas. I found out the primary health issues that plague these communities
are mental disorder, malnutrition, and infectious disease. There are some reasons behind this
high incidence rate of these kinds of diseases in the aboriginal community. The primary
reason behind the mental disorders is the two century of colonisation from European non-
indigenous people (Nasir et al., 2018). From the research work I have found out that
indigenous people living in the remote area are more susceptible than the indigenous people
living in non- remote area. The health of indigenous people is far less likely to be assessed as
fair and poor in remote areas in comparison with the non-remote regions (20 per
cent compared to 25 per cent) (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019). The
likelihoods of diabetes were substantially higher for indigenous adults in remote zones while
comparing with non- remote zones (21 per cent versus 9.4 per cent) (Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare, 2019). Based on the recent year’s data I found out the Indigenous
population aged above 2 years living in remote locations were far more likely to suffer
from cardiovascular illness with regard to those living in non-remote locations (18 per
cent compared with 11 per cent) (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).
Avoiding exposure to risk elements like alcohol and tobacco use, physical inactivity, high
body mass, and high blood pressure might prohibit more than one third of the global burden
of the disease among Indigenous Australians (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,
2019).
In Australia, I felt that the absence of fair access to healthcare services and the lower
level of the health facilities of indigenous people (healthy homes, sanitation, food etc)

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opposed to other Australians constitute important factors of the indigenous health inequality.
The socio-economic disadvantage of all main markers is experienced by the indigenous
people of Australia (Lovett, 2016). The average monthly house hold revenue for Australian
aboriginal peoples was $364 a week at the time of 2001 National Census, or in other
words, 62 per cent for non indigenous peoples which were $585 per week
(Humanrights.gov.au, 2019). Studies have shown links between the economic and social
status of a person and his health. For instance, the links between poverty and poor health are
obvious. Poor learning, poor literature and the ability of people to utilise medical information
are connected to poor health status. I found out through the data analysis that the availability
of healthcare services and medications is reduced through poorer earnings (Sørensen et al.,
2012). Poor baby food is linked to chronic poverty and incidence of disease at a later stage
of life. Studies have also shown that lower income people have very little financial control as
well as other forms of life control. This may add to the burden of harmful stress in which
protracted exposure to mental demands is viewed to be restricted and there is little chance of
reward. Based on the research process I found out that chronic stress can have an effect on
the body's circulatory system, immune system, and metabolic function, using a range of
hormone mechanisms and is linked to a range of health pathways (Pervanidou & Chrousos,
2012).
According to me the aboriginal people are not just disadvantaged, the inequality and
poverty they suffer represent their contemporary treatment as individuals. The continued
inequity in well-being can be related to systematic discrimination. I felt that racism has also
been recorded to have an effect on both health and quality of life (Gee, Walsemann &
Brondolo, 2012). There were reports of racialism faced in the last six months among 21.5 per
cent of indigenous children under the age of 12 (Humanrights.gov.au, 2019). This was linked
to the increasing consumption of marijuana, smoking, and alcohol among these younger age

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groups. In the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 38 per cent
of participants were either removed from their own homes and/ or had relatives who, as a
child, were forcefully or otherwise removed from their natural family (Humanrights.gov.au,
2019). The method has effects on inter-generational health. The WAACHS or Western
Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey reported that the consequences of these incidents
on parents were that drug abuse and psychological illness were higher. They had emotional
and cognitive issues twice as much as possible, were at significant risk for impulsivity, social
and emotional disturbance and were considerably more likely to misuse alcohol and drug
(Kaspar, 2013).
I recommend that an efficient, strong, and well operated fiscal and cultural health
system, as well as a cultural or linguistic assistance are needed to ensure health care
affordability and accessibility. Cultural barriers in the work environment include barriers to
the health of people, which include medical practices, languages, or sexuality and
gender conceptions. The primary cause of the unsatisfying result of health care services
between Aboriginals and Torres Strait islanders is these barriers, which might lead to severe
communication breakdown between parties from different cultural backgrounds. Their beliefs
are very linked by a disruption in obtaining cancer screening, free health checks, and a follow
up hospital (Lowell et al., 2015). These barriers cause unequal health for the aboriginal
people of Australia. Differences in faith, conviction or interpretation
regarding health, value or identity make aboriginal people unwilling to take advantage of
main stream health facilities. In a research it has been reported that on a HIV treatment
among indigenous people, everyday regimens should be maintained and ancestral customs
followed instead of individual health focused (Li, 2017). Therefore I found out that the
cultural differences play a major part in the failure of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait
Islanders for achieving adequate service in case of health care services. Because dialect is the

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principal element of culture, inefficient interaction leads to severe health outcomes failures.
Australia may have created the most advanced health care system in the world, but this does
not bring much advantage in the absence of communication among patients and health
providers (Percival et al., 2016). Efficient cultural communication leads to less
miscommunication and confusion, and better health care. Aboriginals, for instance, represent
97.5 per cent of the population in the Northern Territory of Australia. Among them, only 2.1
per cent speak English only in their own country (Li, 2017). Cultural and linguistic
differences defy fair access to health care, as aboriginal people talk more than 100 dialects. I
found out that the lack of an indigenous medical examiner that is able to comprehend the
culture and language of Aboriginals in rural Northern Territory only makes this issue even
worse. Identity relates to the perception that people are part of a community (Li, 2017). Thus
it can be stated that difference in physical and biological could also discourage indigenous
people from taking an active interest in their therapy. Undoubtedly, individuals generally
trust the people who have the same ethnicities, practice the very same religious belief, have
the same physiological characteristics and come from the same social class. The creation of a
warm, relaxing environment, a stronger attachment and a good relationship with somebody
from a significantly different ethnic group is much more difficult. It is therefore clear why
certain Indigenous people hesitate to obtain a “white doctor'' for health services and mention
a lack of cultural security (Li, 2017).
I strongly recommend that the cultural and linguistically adapted health care is
essential for aboriginal people. Reinforcing the cultural skills of health care workers and the
health care system as a whole could serve as an effective alternative to decreasing ethnic
or racial disparities in health care (Clifford et al., 2015). Medical professionals outfitted with
greater cultural skills and understanding can significantly reduce inequalities. Studies
have suggested that incorporation of culture into service delivery or attempting to

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comprehend the convictions of a group and mixing them with the medical skills, practices
and actions of a group. Therefore I would suggest that for seeking options for improving
cultural skills, health care providers and entities have to function together just to acquire
creative solutions. Studies have indicated that highly qualified language pathologists who
comprehend Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders cultural and linguistic context
have to make substantial charitable donations to how facilities are designed, planned and
provided for these aboriginal people. Cultural skills measuring tools for the delivery of self-
assessments are also recommended. Capacity to communicate culturally with respect and
without conviction can motivate health care professionals to explain the aboriginal people to
trust more in the health care system. Nurses play a key role in addressing the needs of
aboriginal peoples by providing direct care and upstream navigation together with health
promotion specialists (Kohlbry, 2016). The job of nurses in a broader sphere needs to be
taken into consideration, as they continuously advocate patients, beliefs, respect culture, and
heritage of all patients and facilitate cross-cultural and ethical medical attention for
individuals with a culturally diverse background. Nursing investigators endorse the
development and provision of ethnically and culturally relevant facilities to certain
government and non-governmental medical organizations. I have found out that they have
been in a privileged position to promote health conditions for Aboriginals in order to provide
high quality care and the contentment of the patient (Li, 2017). In addition to the know-how
and systems, the advocacy of indigenous population's health includes empathy towards those
influenced by differences in access to health care.
Conclusion:
Therefore I can conclude that the health equality is a fundamental right and a central
tenet of the nationwide coverage of health care. Disadvantaged Australians and Torres Strait
Islanders must take interventions to protect and help them. The prevention of universal health

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care coverage for the aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders is inexcusable due to
cultural obstacles. I suggest that all enterprises have to aspire and work together to close the
gaps in health inequality. In order to take into account the responsibilities of medical
professionals and nurses, further research and investigation is necessary.

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References:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2019). The health and welfare of Australia’s
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: 2015, Health and disability key points -
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Retrieved from
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health-disability-key-points
Clifford, A., McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., & Tsey, K. (2015). Interventions to improve
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Gee, G. C., Walsemann, K. M., & Brondolo, E. (2012). A life course perspective on how
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Gee, G., Dudgeon, P., Schultz, C., Hart, A., & Kelly, K. (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander social and emotional wellbeing. Working together: Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice, 2, 55-68.
Humanrights.gov.au. (2019). Social determinants and the health of Indigenous peoples in
Australia – a human rights based approach | Australian Human Rights Commission.
Retrieved from https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/speeches/social-determinants-
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Kaspar, V. (2013). Mental health of Aboriginal children and adolescents in violent school
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