Clinician Perspectives of Communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Managing Pain: Needs and Preferences

Christina M. Bernardes, Stuart Ekberg, Stephen Birch, Renata F. I. Meuter, Andrew Claus, Matthew Bryant, Jermaine Isua, Paul Gray, Joseph P. Kluver, Daniel Williamson, Corey Jones, Kushla Houkamau, Marayah Taylor, Eva Malacova, Ivan Lin and Gregory Pratt
Additional contact information
Christina M. Bernardes: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Stuart Ekberg: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
Stephen Birch: Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
Renata F. I. Meuter: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
Andrew Claus: Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD 4021, Australia
Matthew Bryant: North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia
Jermaine Isua: Cultural Capability Services, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Paul Gray: Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD 4021, Australia
Joseph P. Kluver: Persistent Pain Clinic, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
Daniel Williamson: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Corey Jones: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Kushla Houkamau: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Marayah Taylor: North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia
Eva Malacova: Statistics Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Ivan Lin: Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (WACRH), The University of Western Australia, Geraldton, WA 6531, Australia
Gregory Pratt: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Poor communication is an important factor contributing to health disparity. This study sought to investigate clinicians’ perspectives about communicating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with pain. This multi-site and mixed-methods study involved clinicians from three pain management services in Queensland, Australia. Clinicians completed a survey and participated in focus groups. Clinicians rated the importance of communication training, their knowledge, ability, and confidence in communicating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients using a 5-point Likert scale. Rating scores were combined into low (scores 1–2); moderate (score 3) and high (scores 4–5). Informed by an interpretive description methodology, thematic analysis of focus group data was used to identify the communication needs and training preferences of clinicians. Overall ( N = 64), 88% of clinicians rated the importance of communication training when supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients as “high”. In contrast, far fewer clinicians rated as “high” their knowledge (28%), ability (25%) and confidence (28%) in effectively communicating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Thematic analysis identified three areas of need: knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, health beliefs, and understanding cross-cultural cues. Communication skills can be learned and training, in the form of a tailored intervention to support quality engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, should combine cultural and communication aspects with biomedical knowledge.

Keywords: communication; training; Aboriginal; Torres Strait Islander; clinician; needs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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