Evaluation of a Reading Article on Healthcare Communication

This report evaluates a systematic review by Jennings, Bond, and Hill (2018) on cultural safety and effective communication in healthcare settings, specifically concerning Indigenous populations. The review of 65 papers highlighted the value of communication and culturally appropriate care in improving healthcare outcomes. The student reflects on the importance of patient-centered care, addressing health disparities, and the need for diversity and interpreters in healthcare, particularly in rural areas. The evaluation emphasizes the role of communication and cultural competency in the nursing profession and recommends strategies to overcome language and cultural barriers in healthcare delivery. The student's insights highlight the significance of understanding Indigenous perspectives and the ongoing challenges in achieving equitable healthcare access.

Running head: EVALUATION OF A READING ARTICLE
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Evaluation of a Reading Article
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Evaluation of a Reading Article

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The systematic review by Jennings, Bond, and Hill (2018) discusses the topic of cultural
safety and the role of effective communication in healthcare settings. The systematic review was
conducted on sixty-five papers that contained views of indigenous people regarding delivery of
culturally appropriate care. Culturally safe healthcare refers to the healthcare that resonates with
the needs and expectations of the indigenous people.
Even though this study relied on secondary sources of data instead of primary sources,
the information herein makes significant contributions on understanding the needs and
preferences of Indigenous people. There is little doubt that the findings could have been different
if the study involved direct interviews instead of involving readily published literature on the
topic. Perhaps future studies could consider the need of direct interviews for such studies to
represent the practical views of the participants. Secondary sources have potential for bias, even
though the authors of the articles have declared the absence of conflict of interest. The study
found that indigenous people valued talk because it fostered engagement and adherence with the
goal of improving healthcare outcomes. The use of talk when engaging indigenous people allows
healthcare providers to reflect on their experiences and consider how they can improve in future.
This article is relevant to nursing practice because it addresses two areas that are crucial
for nursing profession. One of the crucial areas is the delivery of culturally appropriate care.
Respect is one of the essential areas when engaging with patients. A similar study conducted by
McElfish, Long, Rowland, Moore, Wilmoth, and Ayers (2017) found that healthcare disparities
can be eliminated through personalized patient-centered care that is culturally appropriate and
the one that respects the indigenous people. This is essentially important because elimination of
health disparities helps healthcare providers to overcome barriers to accessing safe and culturally
competent healthcare. This is a reliable indication that patient-centered approach through

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enhanced communication facilitates doctor-patient relationships and helps in suppressing
disparities that are dominant in the healthcare sector today.
This article has contributed to my understanding of important of communication and the
role of cultural competency in addressing disparities in healthcare. The evaluation of this article
has helped me research the topic and increase my knowledge on various aspects of cultural
safety and competency in healthcare setting. I have learned that the healthcare sector is still
experiencing disparities. As a student, I have developed an interest in understanding the and
addressing the challenges that affect Indigenous and marginalized groups. My role as a potential
nurse in public health will be to empower patients and develop effective communication that is
culturally effective and competent. My recommendation is that there is a need for diversity in
healthcare. There is a need to increase collaborators and interpreters in rural areas when dealing
with marginalized groups. If nurses and doctors do not come from rural areas, there is a need for
them to be accompanied by people from local communities to help address language and cultural
barriers that may hinder effective service delivery.

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References
Jennings, W., Bond, C., & Hill, P., S. (2018). The power of talk and power in talk: A systematic
review of indigenous narratives of culturally safe healthcare communication. Australian
Journal of Public Health, 24, 109-115.
McElfish, P. A., Long, C. R., Rowland, B., Moore, S., Wilmoth, R., & Ayers, B. (2017).
Improving culturally appropriate care using a community-based participatory research
approach: Evaluation of a multicomponent cultural competency training program,
Arkansas, 2015-2016. Preventing Chronic Disease, 14, E62.
https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd14.170014