Enhancing Cultural Security for Indigenous Patients in Healthcare

This report delves into the critical issue of cultural security within healthcare settings, specifically focusing on the experiences of indigenous patients. It highlights the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes faced by indigenous populations, often attributed to a lack of cultural security within healthcare systems. The report emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing cultural differences to improve patient care, including awareness of gender-related sensitivities, communication barriers, and the need for cross-cultural training for healthcare professionals. It proposes practical strategies such as employing indigenous translators, implementing cultural awareness programs, and creating culturally sensitive environments to enhance the healthcare experience for indigenous patients. The ultimate goal is to foster a more culturally secure healthcare system that effectively meets the needs of indigenous communities and contributes to their overall well-being. The report underscores the need for a dual approach, integrating both Western and indigenous perspectives to achieve better health outcomes.

Running head: CULTURAL SECURITY FOR INDIGIENOUS PATIENTS
CULTURAL SECURITY FOR INDIGIENOUS PATIENTS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CULTURAL SECURITY FOR INDIGIENOUS PATIENTS
Indigenous people in comparison to the other citizens of Australia suffer from various
diseases and the mortality rate of the indigenous people is high despite of the attempts of
governments trying to combat the issue and provide the indigenous people with proper
medical care and facilities. One of the major reasons of this issue is the lack of cultural
security which one fails to provide to the indigenous people.
According to scholars, many indigenous and aboriginal people, accessing health care
facilities lead to physical as well as emotional discomfort and one of the major reasons for
this because cultural security has not been an essential and vital part in the system or process
of healthcare (Coffin, 2007). Cultural security is defined as the philosophy and the way one
operates to ensure groups and individuals are treated in regards to the different cultural needs.
I believe that as a future healthcare professional I need to think of how I can create
cultural security so that I can provide quality services to the indigenous people who have
been having difficulty in accessing healthcare despite of the establishment of the new
healthcare facilities. McCormack, Mohammed & O'Brien, (2001) states awareness about the
indigenous cultures are highly important to provide proper medical facilities. I would thus
like to be aware of the cultural aspects of the indigenous people to work by keeping the
aspects in mind. For example, indigenous male and female are not comfortable in being
together in the same room thus would like to look into the matter and convey this information
in order to create different waiting rooms and departments in respect to the different gender.
According to scholars, there often becomes a gap in the treatment of the indigenous
people because of cultural differences and difficulty in communication, due to this the
indigenous people fail to explain the symptoms and the difficulty they are facing to the
healthcare professionals and this barrier leads to not detecting the disease in time (Holman,
2005). This has detrimental effects on the health of the indigenous and the aboriginal people

2CULTURAL SECURITY FOR INDIGIENOUS PATIENTS
in the country. I would like to address this issue and ensure an indigenous person is recruited
for translating what the indigenous patients say to mitigate the issue and provide them with
quality healthcare facilities to enhance their health. Cross cultural training is something I
would like the healthcare professionals to take in order to provide proper healthcare to the
indigenous people. Westwood, (2005) states cross cultural training will help healthcare
professional be aware of what their culture demands and how they are going to use that to
encourage them to avail healthcare facilities.
There are many indigenous people are not aware of the different diseases they are
prone to and do not understand the symptoms they face may need medical attention. Thus, I
believe awareness programs and initiatives need to be provided to the indigenous people so
that they are aware of the symptoms and when they need to visit healthcare facilities in order
to get treated efficiently and contribute to their overall well-being. I believe these will help in
creating cultural security which will help in improving the healthcare system in the rural
areas where the indigenous patients get treated.

3CULTURAL SECURITY FOR INDIGIENOUS PATIENTS
Reference
Coffin, J. (2007). Rising to the challenge in Aboriginal health by creating cultural
security. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, 31(3), 22.
Holman, D. (2005). Bridging the treatment gap for Indigenous Australians. Medical Journal
of Australia, 182(10), 505-6.
McCormack, P., Mohammed, F., & O'Brien, A. (2001). Learning to work with the
community: The development of the Wujal Wujal guidelines for supporting people
who are at risk. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, 25(4), 19.
Westwood, B. (2005). Cross-cultural training for Aboriginal health issues South Western
Sydney Area Health Service. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, 29(3),
22.