Mr Daniel Gela1, Mrs Diai Luffman1, Ms Sophie Blackmore1
1Torres And Cape Hospital and Health Service, Thursday Island, Australia
Biography:
Diai Luffman has worked in Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service for over 30 years.
She is currently the program manager for the Post-Acute Rehabilitation and Aged Care Program for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service on Thursday Island.
Daniel Gela is an Advanced Health Worker with the Post-Acute Rehabilitation and Aged Care Program in Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.
He is the first specialist palliative care health worker on Thursday Island.
Sophie Blackmore is a clinical nurse in the Post-Acute Rehabilitation and Aged Care Program in Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.
She works as part of the palliative care team on Thursday Island.
Abstract:
Background: Cultural safety in palliative care nursing is a nursing approach which acknowledges and respects the cultural beliefs, values, and practices of individuals and their families receiving palliative care. It involves providing care that is sensitive to and aligned with the cultural background of the patient, recognising that culture influences how people experience illness, death, and dying.
Lack of access to culturally safe healthcare in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area is the biggest barrier to people accepting and receiving the care they need. This results in widespread health disparities.
Aim: To identify key components of culturally safe palliative care practice for people in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area.
Method: Nursing care provided to Torres Strait Islander Northern Peninsula Area palliative care clients was documented with a daily nursing narrative journal. The community palliative care team used reflection, discussion and client and community engagement to identify key components which may enhance culturally safe practice.
Results: Four main characteristics of culturally safe practice were identified.
Conclusions: The four characteristics of culturally safe practice identified can be used by non-indigenous health workers as a reference to reflect on the cultural safety of their practice.