The Communicate Study Partnership

Summary

The vision of the Communicate Study Partnership is to ensure more Aboriginal patients receive culturally safe healthcare in their first language.

The Communicate Study Partnership will implement and evaluate creative ways to embed cultural safety training and increase use of Aboriginal Interpreters and Aboriginal Health Practitioners at Northern Territory Top End hospitals.

Quantitative outcomes (interpreter uptake, outcomes including leave against medical advice, costs) will be measured using time-series analysis. Qualitative outcomes derived from interviews with patient, healthcare provider and interpreter participants, will be informed by decolonising theory and participatory approaches.

Successful project implementation will improve experience of care and health outcomes for Aboriginal people, build Aboriginal workforce, and improve healthcare provider satisfaction.

Conditions

• Aboriginal Health
• Cultural Safety
• Access to Interpreters
• Healthcare Provider Training

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Interventions to transform the culture of healthcare systems to achieve excellence in providing culturally safe care for First Nations peoples

1. Implement 'Ask the Specialist Plus', a structured program to promote anti-racism within Northern Territory (NT) hospitals by giving healthcare providers training in cultural safety. 2. Implement strategies to foster 'Clinical champions of cultural safety' through a social media chat platform and face to face meetings to discuss anti-racism practice, cultural safety and practical ways to deliver culturally safe care including interpreter use. 3. Support simplified and improved strategies for booking an interpreter to increase uptake. 4. Implement retention strategies to ensure interpreters receive workplace support. 5. Provide training in health terminology for interpreters. 6. Integrate interpreter supply and demand through efficiency and effectiveness strategies tailored to participating sites. 7. Implement continuous quality improvement cycles with senior managers, using findings from qualitative and quantitative data collection and evaluation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northern Territory of Australia as represented by the Department of Health

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Djalkiri Foundation Aboriginal Corporation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Charles Darwin University

  collaborator OTHER

• National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Northern Territory Government as represented by the Department of The Chief Minister and Cabinet

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Menzies School of Health Research

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anna Ralph, PhD · Menzies School of Health Research

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-05-23

Primary Completion

2026-05-11

Completion

2026-12-31

Countries

• Australia

Study Locations