None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Our project aims to evaluate a culturally safe cancer care model developed for and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Cancer Services at South-West Sydney LHD New South Wales. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are aged 18 years or older and you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and you are receiving care through the cancer services at South Western Sydney Local Health District. Families and/or carers of people receiving care at this service will also be able to participate. Study details All participants who choose to enrol in this study will be able to have an Aboriginal Health Worker assigned to their cancer care team. It is anticipated that the Aboriginal Health Worker will be able to provide culturally appropriate support, assist patients with navigating services, and ensuring that care is patient-centred and respectful of cultural values. Healthcare professionals who work in these cancer services will also undergo a comprehensive cultural safety and capabilities training program delivered by a Safe Pathways Aboriginal Educator. It is anticipated that this program will enable healthcare professionals to provide care that is respectful and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. All participants who choose to engage with these services will also be asked to provide their feedback on the services they used during Yarning sessions with the study team. It is hoped this research will determine whether incorporating Aboriginal Health Workers and a cultural safety and capabilities training program for healthcare professionals leads to better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families who are seeking cancer care. If this initial study finds that either or both of these components are helpful and acceptable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families, it is hoped that these services will be embedded in more local health services going forward. By fostering trust and collaboration, this initiative will contribute to reducing the cancer care gap and advancing health equity.
Interventions
This project will embed dedicated Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) within the cancer services multidisciplinary team at South Western Sydney Local Health District. The AHW will play a critical role in providing culturally appropriate support, navigating services, and ensuring that care is patient-centred and respectful of cultural values. The Aboriginal Health Workers will facilitate in-person communication between patients, families, and clinicians, and ensuring that patients receive the necessa
This project will embed dedicated Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) within the cancer services multidisciplinary team at South Western Sydney Local Health District. The AHW will play a critical role in providing culturally appropriate support, navigating services, and ensuring that care is patient-centred and respectful of cultural values. The Aboriginal Health Workers will facilitate in-person communication between patients, families, and clinicians, and ensuring that patients receive the necessary support to complete treatment. They will use a combination of lived and tertiary experience to help patients and their families with accessing community support through local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, attending appointments, coordinating patient travel and supporting families and patients along their health journeys. The operational team will have regular meetings with AHW's to hear of their involvement with the multidisciplinary team and to support this process if need be. The Aboriginal Health Workers are already employed by SWSLHD, however they will be supporting delivery of Safe Pathways for a duration of 12 months. Additionally, an Aboriginal Safe Pathways Educator will deliver a comprehensive cultural safety and capabilities training program for healthcare professionals involved in cancer treatment, ensuring they are better equipped to provide care that is respectful and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. The Aboriginal Safe Pathways Educator position will be employed for a duration of 12 months until project completion. The Building Cultural Safety and Capability training program was developed by researchers at The George Institute for Global Health and Flinders University and has previously been trialed at The Childrens Hospital at Westmead for the Safe Pathways study. The training uses a combination of online and self-paced learning modules, facilitated group yarning sessions and reflexivity to cover 6 learning modules over the duration of 1 year. The Aboriginal Safe Pathways Educator will monitor the attendance and completion of learning modules via redcap access and session attendance checklists.
Sponsors
The George Institute for Global Health
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and/or their families who are receiving care through the cancer services at South Western Sydney Local Health District
Exclusion criteria
Under 18 years of age, patient not receiving care for cancer
Outcome results
None listed