Barriers to and Strategies Promoting Access to Quality Healthcare for Indigenous Australians

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Nur3030 A2 assignment    

NUR 3030 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Assessment 2: Written Assessment

Task overview   

Assessment name

Assessment 2 –Academic Essay 

Brief task description

Discussing barriers to healthcare for Indigenous Australians and how the principles of Primary Health Care influence inequity in healthcare and the type of strategies that promote better access to quality healthcare

Rationale for assessment task

This assessment has been devised to inform student knowledge and learnings as future nurses on the complexities that exist and inform Indigenous health statuses today. It is imperative that students understand the barriers, and reasons for not accessing healthcare like other Australians and how nurses can better support improved health care.

 

At the end of this assessment students will be:

Culturally capable individuals who are self-aware and sensitive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives, equitable and respectful of diversity and multiculturalism, and can apply these capabilities in their professional practice.

Due Date

27th April 2021 by 2355 AEST

Length

1500-word assignment (+/- 10%)

Word length includes in-text referencing and excludes your reference list and appendices

Marks out of:

Weighting:

Maximum grade 40

Weighting 40%

Course Objectives measured

Objective 2

Graduate Attributes:

  • Critical, creative, thinkers who can integrate and apply knowledge and relevant skills, including research and digital literacy skills, to analyse and evaluate ideas, concepts, theories, and problems, and offer insights, innovative approaches, and solutions.
  • Effective communicators and collaborators who actively and respectfully lead, listen, reflect, discuss, and negotiate in order to work productively with a range of individuals and groups, including professional teams.
  • Ethical, engaged professionals and citizens who engage in, non-discriminatory, safe practices and consider the local, global, social, economic, legal, and environmental influences on, and impact of, their attitudes and actions.
  • Well-informed individuals with discipline-specific expertise and industry knowledge relevant to their profession or area of study
  • Culturally capable individuals who are self-aware and sensitive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives, equitable and respectful of diversity and multiculturalism, and can apply these capabilities in their professional practice.

 

 

 

 

Task information

Task detail

Case Scenario

 

Historical practices have created a great deal of distrust within Indigenous peoples with regard to the use of hospitals (Best, 2014). Healthcare in Australia is a predominately Westernised system that is permeated by the social norms and expectations defined by white culture (Nielson, 2010). The nursing profession is clearly entrenched in the biomedical model as a by-product of the colonisation process (Best, 2014). Explore how a Primary Health Care approach can facilitate improved health outcomes for Indigenous people within the health care setting. Cultural safety is a key strategy for reducing inequalities in healthcare for Indigenous people.

 

Assignment Task

 

  1. Discuss the likely barriers to accessing health care for Indigenous Australians from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Consideration may be given to, but not limited to language, cultural worldviews and values, spirituality, traditional healing practices and beliefs, and workplace diversity.
  2. Identify the principles of Primary Health Care and discuss how they are applied within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health care settings (Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector)
  3. With consideration for your answer to No.1 above, critically discuss inclusive practice strategies to promote access to quality health care for Australia’s Indigenous people

Writing Style

This assessment piece will be written in the form of an academic essay providing links to relevant peer reviewed articles. 

Referencing/ citations

References

 

Use APA 7 Referencing to cite the most current reference sources (minimum of 6 required for your assignment) within the last five years, seminal sources will be acceptable to support the assignment task.

 

In text citations: You must include intext citations in the body of your work. Each new point or piece of evidence must be attributed (via in-text citation) to the source.

 

Assignment must be submitted via ‘Assessment 2 Submission portal’ on the NUR3030 study desk.

Formatting Style

Formatting of your assignment

•              Times New Roman, font size 12

•              Double spacing

•              Utilise the APA 7 Referencing formatting  and referencing see link on study desk

•              Word format only to be submitted (PDF’s will not be accepted)

•              Use headings for each section

Resources available to complete task

Example of a sources

http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/ 

 

https://www.naccho.org.au/

 

QAIHC - Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

 

Plagiarism - What students need to know

Assignment support resources

USQ APA Referencing

What is Turnitin? How do I use it

Submission information

What you need to submit

 

One Microsoft Word document that contains the following items:

  • First page must include the following: Course code, Course name, semester and year, assignment title, student name, student number, word count – excluding reference list
  • No coversheet but footer must include unit code, unit name, semester and year, assignment title, student name, student number
  • Do not include the marking criteria sheet

Submission requirements

This assessment task must:

·         use APA 7 for formatting and citing academic literature

·         be submitted in electronic format as a Microsoft Word document via Turnitin

File Name Conventions

Save your document with the following naming conventions: surname_initialORstudentnumber_coursecode_A2.doc

Moderation

All staff who are assessing your work meet to discuss and compare grading decisions before marks or grades are released and finalised.

Academic Integrity Statement

Please ensure you are submitting your FINAL copy as we will not allow re-submissions if you unintentionally submit a draft or a file meant for another course. What is submitted is what will be marked. All assignments will automatically be filtered through an anti-plagiarism program, Turnitin.

 

If you do not press submit for marking your draft will be considered your final submission. If you do not submit without an approved extension you will receive a '0' mark for the assignment.

 

Assessment Task 1 = 10 marks

Discuss the likely barriers to accessing health care for Indigenous Australians from both historical and contemporary perspectives

 

 

10-9

8.9-7

6.9-5

4.9-3

2.9-0

Total mark

Contains an excellent discussion of the likely barriers to accessing healthcare from both a historical and contemporary perspective

Contains a good discussion of the likely barriers to accessing healthcare from both a historical and contemporary perspective

Contains a moderately sound discussion of the likely barriers to accessing healthcare from both a historical and contemporary perspective

Contains a limited discussion of the likely barriers to accessing healthcare from both a historical and contemporary perspective

Contains a minimal discussion of the likely barriers to accessing healthcare from both a historical and contemporary perspective

/10

Assessment Task 2 = 10 marks

Identify the principles of Primary Health Care and discuss how they are applied within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health care settings (Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector)

 

 

 

10-9

8.9-7

6.9-5

4.9-3

2.9-0

Total mark

Demonstrates a very high-level

knowledge of Primary Heath

Care Principles and discusses how

they are applied within Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander specific health care settings

 

Knowledge is very well supported

by high level evidence.

Demonstrates a high-level knowledge

of Primary Health Care principles

and discusses how they are

applied within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health care settings

 

Knowledge is well supported by

high level evidence.

Demonstrates a sound knowledge of

Primary Health Care principles and

discusses how they are applied

within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health care settings

 

 

Knowledge is well supported by

evidence.

Demonstrates limited knowledge of Primary Health

Care principles and discusses how they are applied within

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health care settings

 

 

Knowledge is supported by

evidence.

Demonstrate

minimal knowledge of

Primary Health Care

principles and discusses

how they are applied

within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific health care settings 

 

 

Knowledge is not

supported by evidence.

/10

Assessment Task 3 = 10 marks

Critically discusses inclusive practice strategies that addresses the barriers to promote access to quality health care for Australia’s Indigenous people

10-9

8.9-7

6.9-5

4.9-3

2.9-0

Total mark

Critical discussion contains an excellent overview of the inclusive practice strategies that support the barriers to promote access to quality health care

Critical discussion contains a good overview of the inclusive practice strategies that support the barriers to promote access to quality health care

Critical discussion contains a moderately sound overview of the inclusive practice strategies that support the barriers to promote access to quality health care

Critical discussion contains a limited overview of the inclusive practice strategies that support the barriers to promote access to quality health care

Critical discussion contains a minimal overview of the inclusive practice strategies that support the barriers to promote access to quality health care

/10

Overall presentation = 10 marks

Academic presentation: Evidence of research, use of suitable references and APA Style Referencing

10-9

9-7

7-5

5-3

0 - 3

Total mark

Expression

Very clear expression and no spelling or grammar errors.

 

 

 

Structure

A well-structured, coherent synthesis of literature from multiple sources; Accurately adhered to essay style.

 

Evidence

Overall discussion is logical and clear and well supported with highly relevant literature.

 

Expression

Clear expression; spelling or grammar errors 1 -3

 

 

 

Structure

Sound evidence with a synthesis of a range of resources: subsequent analysis satisfactory

 

 

Evidence

Overall discussion is clear and logical and references to literature are good

Expression

Mostly clear expression; spelling or grammar errors 4 or more

 

 

Structure

Satisfactory evidence with a synthesis of a limited scope of resources: subsequent analysis limited

 

Evidence

Overall discussion is clear and logical and references to literature are satisfactory

Expression

Somewhat clear expression with spelling or grammar errors 5 or more

 

 

Structure

Some evidence with limited scope of resources used in the analysis

 

 

 

Evidence

Overall discussion is mostly logical and reference to literature is present but not strong

Expression

Used incorrect terminology with

numerous mistakes in spelling and/or grammar 6 or more

 

Structure

Little to no evidence using scholarly research used in the analysis

 

 

 

Evidence

Overall discussion is not logical and reference to literature, if any is not appropriate or insufficient

/10

MARKS LOST FOR LATE PENALTY (IF RELEVANT -5% of the total marks available for the assessment item per working day deducted from total mark gained 

 

 

 

Markers comments

 

Date

/40

 

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Subject Nursing Pages 11 Style APA
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Answer

  • Barriers to and Strategies Promoting Access to Quality Healthcare for Indigenous Australians

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have limited access to appropriate primary healthcare despite funding by the government towards various programs to build the capability of the Indigenous Australians’ health workforce. Limited access to healthcare leads to poor health and a high mortality rate than non-indigenous Australians (Davy, Harfield, McArthur, Munn & Brown, 2016). This essay evaluates the barriers hindering healthcare, the influence of inequality by principles of primary healthcare, and the type of strategies to be adopted to promote accessible quality health care for indigenous Australians.

    Barriers to Accessing Healthcare

    Cultural Values and Beliefs

    Cultural barriers in healthcare emerge due to differences in language, different medical practices and procedures used and issues in gender identity. Such challenges are often the reasons for miscommunication between individuals from different cultural backgrounds, hindering adequate healthcare provision among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australians. Different interpretations about health and identity alongside variations in values, beliefs and faith also pose a challenge for the indigenous people in adopting the established health care facilities (MacLean, Ritte, Thorpe, Ewen & Arabena, 2017). However, these so much upheld beliefs lead to adverse outcomes such as delays or being non-committed to hospital appointments and health checks such as cancer screening.

    Ineffective Communication

    Language is an integral part of any culture and, therefore, necessary to achieve proper healthcare. Failure in communication between patients and medical providers lead to adverse healthcare outcomes such as misdiagnoses. Through language variance, there is inequitable access to healthcare, and the fact that indigenous communities speak more than 100 vernacular languages exacerbates the problem in healthcare provision. An example is the aboriginals in Northern Australia, who have a population of 97.5%, but only 2.1% of this population speak English (Li, 2017).

    Discrimination and Racism

    Selective issuance of treatment has been based on physical and biological differences. Racial discrimination has thus been a factor hindering healthcare promotion in the aboriginal communities as these instances of prejudice make them feel secluded. Racism has led to adverse outcomes. Most people tend not to participate in treatment. Their lack of involvement is distrust from particular people who do not share their same physiological features, such as 'white doctors’ (Goodman, Fleming, Markwick, Morrison, Lagimodiere & Society, 2017).

    Lack of Transport

    Inaccessible public and private transport hinder the accessibility of healthcare to the indigenous populations. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island statistics in 2018-2019 showed that 13% of indigenous Australians aged 15 years and above had no access to public transport in their locale and, as a result, various services left unattended. Such affected services include; for those who had doctor appointments, 14% and those who had dental appointments 10% (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020). Furthermore, travelling to an urban centre for medical care is regarded by the indigenous population as costly, risky for critically ill patients due to poor care and time-consuming.

    Unemployment

    Lack of secure and well-paying jobs lead to inadequate income levels by the indigenous communities. A low income has adverse effects on physical and mental health. It affects the physical health of an individual through the inability to access proper and advanced healthcare due to its cost.

    Policies enacted by the government to curb the unemployment rate, such as the CDEP (Community Development Employment Projects), have had a minimal impact on reducing unemployment in Australia. It has had no significant impact for 35 years. According to closing the Gap statistics, there have not been developments in indigenous employment targets since 2008, and a drastic fall in the rate of employment which is 53.8% in 2008 to 47.5% in 2012-2013, has been observed (Ewing, Sarra, Price, O'Brien & Priddle, 2017).

    Principles of Primary Healthcare and its Application within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector

    Primary healthcare in Australia aims in creating good conditions that will promote better, accessible health to communities and the citizens. For these goals to be achieved, primary healthcare is thus based on the principles of equity, intersectoral cooperation, local community engagement, delivery of crucial healthcare programs, and approaches that blend with aboriginal ways of life.

    Equity

    The government promotes all-inclusive primary health care that is fair and equitable. It is accommodative to all people of different social classes and does not discriminate between individuals since it is affordable. Inclusive healthcare is evident from the right to health in policy initiatives such as the 1989 National Aboriginal Health Strategy (Mazel, 2018).

    Inter-sectoral Cooperation

    Primary healthcare is promoted at the indigenous local level through collaborations between the government, different health agencies, and citizens. Effective collaboration ensures uniformity in decision making, smooth execution of decisions and proper channelling of funds to all bodies involved. Evidence on the adoption of health policies alongside intersectoral action on health issues is based on social determinants of health and equity in Australian health policy (Fisher, 2017).

    Local Community Engagement

    This is achieved through supporting the knowledgeable individuals within the community. These individuals are then used as intermediaries to disseminate information to the other community members, enabling an easy formulation and participation in any given project. Health care system decisions are also delivered using a person-centred approach, making communities have a sense of ownership in the given project, ensuring its success.

    Delivery of Critical Primary Health Care Programs

    Healthcare programs that are evidence based and geared towards a long-term positive effect on the communities are absorbed. These integrated programs are geared towards reducing child mortality and curbing the spread of chronic diseases.

    Approaches that Blend with Aboriginal ways of life

    Medical practitioners ought to adopt practices that are aligned with the values and beliefs of the indigenous communities. Integrating practices that support culture enhances a positive response, trust and acceptance within individuals in the community.

    In supporting evidence, a study conducted by Aboriginal community members and health service representatives gave out results from 60 participants of the given study who projected that participation of the local community in healthcare decisions was effective and therefore should be embraced (Durey, McEvoy, Swift-Otero, Taylor, Katzenellenbogen & Bessarab, 2016).

    Inclusive Practice Strategies that Promote Access to Quality Health Care

    Incorporating Culture into Service Delivery

                Curbing cultural barriers requires integrating different cultural values and beliefs into clinical practices (MacLean et al., 2017). Health care professionals should also nourish their proficiency in cultural dialects. Ability to communicate in the same dialect as those he intends to give service will promote trust, thus reducing racial and ethnic differences.

    Mastering Communication Skills

    Healthcare professionals should adopt polite and unbiased culture-oriented communication skills, which is accommodative to patients. Practical communication skills will lead to better healthcare by limiting misdiagnoses and also promoting trust. Speech-language pathologists who understand linguistics of the different indigenous cultures should also contribute to communication by notifying the indigenous Australians of the services offered and how they are usually supplied.

    Promoting Culturally Respectful Health Service Delivery

                A cultural respectful service delivery that intends to end racial discrimination can be achieved through collective support from all government bodies, institutions, organizations and individual levels (MacLean et al., 2017). Also, providing cultural education programs to the front health line workers will encourage a positive attitude towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, thus fostering a long-term positive relationship and ending institutional racism in healthcare.    

    Improving Access to Healthcare

                Accessibility to healthcare can be achieved by providing health care services at the local level and encouraging home visitations for the critically ill, disabled or elderly.

    Strengthening the Workforce

                By creating a good working environment and filling vacant gaps, there will be a reduction in unemployment (Ewing et al., 2017). An excellent working place should also appreciate its employees through awards or annual salary increases. Better pay rates in return lead to mental and physical well-being.

    Conclusion

    In summary, the essay has expounded on the barriers hindering healthcare, the influence of inequality by principles of primary healthcare, and the type of strategies to be adopted to promote accessible quality health care for indigenous Australians. The barriers hindering accessibility of healthcare to the indigenous Australians include; cultural values and beliefs, ineffective communication, discrimination and racism, lack of transport, and unemployment. The principles influencing the provision of primary healthcare within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities consist of; equity, Inter-sectoral cooperation, local community engagement, delivery of critical primary healthcare programs and incorporation of approaches that blend with Aboriginal ways of life. Also, strategies to be adopted to promote access to quality healthcare were; incorporating culture into service delivery, mastering communication skills, promoting culturally respectful health service delivery, improving access to healthcare, and strengthening the workforce.

References

 

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. 2.13 Transport. Retrieved from >https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/2-13-transport#implications. <

Davy, C., Harfield, S., McArthur, A., Munn, Z., & Brown, A. (2016). Access to primary health care services for Indigenous peoples: A framework synthesisInternational journal for equity in health15(1), 1-9.

Durey, A., McEvoy, S., Swift-Otero, V., Taylor, K., Katzenellenbogen, J., & Bessarab, D. (2016). Improving healthcare for Aboriginal Australians through effective engagement between community and health services. BMC Health Services Research, 16(1), 1-13.

Ewing, B., Sarra, G., Price, R., O'Brien, G., & Priddle, C. (2017). Access to sustainable employment and productive training: workplace participation strategies for Indigenous employees. Australian Aboriginal Studies, (2), 27-42.

Fisher, M., Baum, F. E., MacDougall, C., Newman, L., McDermott, D., & Phillips, C. (2017). Intersectoral action on SDH and equity in Australian health policy. Health promotion international, 32(6), 953-963.

Goodman, A., Fleming, K., Markwick, N., Morrison, T., Lagimodiere, L., Kerr, T., & Society, W. A. H. R. (2017). "They treated me like crap, and I know it was because I was Native": The healthcare experiences of Aboriginal peoples living in Vancouver's inner citySocial Science & Medicine178, 87-94

Li, J. L. (2017). Cultural barriers lead to inequitable healthcare access for aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. Chinese Nursing Research, 4(4), 207-210.

MacLean, S., Ritte, R., Thorpe, A., Ewen, S., & Arabena, K. (2017). Health and well-being outcomes of programs for Indigenous Australians that include strategies to enable the expression of cultural identities: a systematic review. Australian journal of primary health23(4), 309-318.

Mazel, O. (2018). Indigenous health and human rights: a reflection on law and culture. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(4), 789.

 

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