Cultural Safety: Respecting Aboriginal Perspectives in a Health Care Setting
Principal Investigator: Hall, Karen (3)
Licence Number: 14551
Organization: Dalhousie University
Licensed Year(s): 2009
Issued: Jul 07, 2009
Project Team: Les Harrison/ Dyan Bergen/ Jo Russell (Community Partner, Yellowknife Health and Social Services)

Objective(s): The goal of this research is to help Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority become a leader and model for the integration of culturally safe health care practices.

Project Description: The goal of this research is to help Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority become a leader and model for the integration of culturally safe health care practices. This study also serves to increase health care workers' sensitivity to many of the cultural issues that are specific to the Aboriginal populations living in Yellowknife, thus raising awareness of the importance of fostering an environment that is aligned with Aboriginal perspectives about health and wellness. The researcher plans to take a qualitative approach to this study, using participatory methods that include individual interviews and group gatherings, enabling Aboriginal peoples to identify how clinical services can accommodate their needs and increase their attendance rates. The setting is meant to be a relaxed one, with the interviews and group gatherings to be more of a discussion rather than formal. If permitted by the participants, the researcher will record the interviews/gatherings and take notes. Once the study is completed, the researcher will prepare a report with findings that will be distributed to the community partner (Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority) and prepare a teaching module in the form of a presentation for new and existing staff on cultural safety. Both projects will be distributed to the Aboriginal groups in Yellowknife. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 03 to July 31, 2009, in Yellowknife.