Action research to implement an Indigenous health curriculum framework

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Health Education
• Curriculum Development
• Action Research in Health Professions Education

Background:

• Indigenous health curriculum frameworks are established, but implementation research is scarce.
• Accreditation bodies drive the need for Indigenous health programs in health professions.
• Understanding effective implementation and learning is crucial for improving Indigenous health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply critical theory and action research to implement an Indigenous health curriculum framework.
• To iteratively improve Indigenous health learning and teaching through research cycles.
• To assess student reaction, knowledge, attitude, confidence, commitment, and skills.

Main Methods:

• Three cycles of action research were conducted from 2017 to 2019.
• Student satisfaction and engagement were measured via surveys (2017-2019).
• Student learning was assessed through self-perception surveys, multiple-choice questions, and content analysis of activities (2018-2019).

Main Results:

• Consistent improvement in student reaction (satisfaction, engagement) and learning outcomes observed from 2017-2019.
• Online and workshop delivery models proved scalable, enhancing educator confidence and content control.
• Student learning spanned novice to entry-to-practice levels, indicating potential misalignment between framework taxonomy and actual learning progression.

Conclusions:

• Iterative improvement through action research enhanced Indigenous health education delivery and outcomes.
• The study highlights the need for better alignment between curriculum framework taxonomies and practical learning experiences.
• Further research on workplace behavior and results in Indigenous health learning and teaching is recommended.