Nhulunbuy

Researchers are examining ways to improve healthcare experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal people in Northern Territory hospitals by providing culturally safe care in their first languages. This phase 2 study aims to create lasting organizational changes that promote cultural safety and clinical excellence, focusing on anti-racism training and increased use of Aboriginal interpreters and Aboriginal Health Practitioners. The study includes both quantitative measures such as interpreter use and hospital stay outcomes, and qualitative insights from interviews with patients, healthcare providers, and interpreters. The study implements a behavioral intervention called 'Ask the Specialist Plus,' which offers anti-racism training through moderated discussions and reflections on podcast episodes. Additional strategies include fostering clinical champions of cultural safety via social media and meetings, simplifying interpreter booking processes, supporting interpreter retention and training, and optimizing interpreter deployment within hospital teams. Continuous quality improvement cycles involving senior managers use data from the study to refine these interventions. Participants, including Aboriginal patients, interpreters, and healthcare providers of any ethnicity, will engage in interviews, observations, and surveys throughout the study period from 2022 to 2026. Researchers will monitor interpreter uptake, patient self-discharge rates, readmissions, hospital stay length, and economic effects of interpreter use. Patient experiences will be tracked qualitatively over time to assess changes during the intervention. The study intends to enhance the Aboriginal workforce and improve provider satisfaction while advancing culturally safe healthcare delivery.