Online Learning to Support Culturally Safe Communication with First Nations Australians in Radiation Therapy: A...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Communication
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• Culturally safe communication is vital for First Nations Australians in radiation therapy.
• Barriers exist in accessing culturally safe communication and cancer care for these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in healthcare professionals' (HCPs) confidence, skills, and knowledge in culturally safe communication with First Nations cancer patients.
• To assess the effectiveness of an online learning program in improving these competencies.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post intervention study involving HCPs from three regional Australian cancer centres.
• Online learning modules focused on cultural competency, health literacy, and communication strategies.
• Pre- and post-training surveys assessed self-reported confidence, knowledge, and skills; data analyzed using paired-sample t-tests.

Main Results:

• Participants' mean confidence in communicating with First Nations patients increased significantly (p=0.006).
• Preparedness to support patient needs also rose significantly (p=0.04).
• 95% of participants rated the online modules as good or excellent.

Conclusions:

• Tailored online learning modules effectively enhance HCPs' confidence, skills, and knowledge for communicating with First Nations cancer patients.
• Integrating such training into routine practice can promote culturally responsive cancer care and improve support for Indigenous patients.