Exploring how Australian general practice registrars define cultural safety with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients: a mixed method study

Abstract

Background Understanding how the general practice medical workforce defines cultural safety may help tailor education and training to better enable community-determined culturally safe practice. This project seeks to explore how Australian general practice registrars define cultural safety with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and alignment with an Australian community derived definition of cultural safety. Methods This mixed method study involved a survey considering demographic details of general practice registrars, questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews to explore how general practice registrars defined cultural safety and a culturally safe consultation. Results Twenty-six registrars completed the survey. Sixteen registrars completed both the survey and the interview. Conclusion This study shows amongst this small sample that there is limited alignment of general practice registrars’ definitions of cultural safety with a community derived definition of cultural safety. The most frequently cited aspects of cultural safety included accessible healthcare, appropriate attitude, and awareness of differences.