Allied Health practitioner Kasey Owen has been awarded a $90,000 Metro South Health Research Support Scheme project grant to develop a communication tool to enrich the quality of care provided to elderly First Nations patients.
Kasey said the tool will be a simple but powerful resource to help improve care for First Nations patients at Redland Hospital.
“A guided tool with prompts designed to help healthcare staff learn more about a patient’s personal history, cultural background, and care preferences will be developed through collaboration with local First Nations consumers,” she said.
“By encouraging patients and their families to share important details about their life story, staff will be able to provide more personalised, respectful, and culturally sensitive care.
“This is particularly valuable for patients with conditions like dementia or delirium, who may have difficulty communicating their needs.
The project team, which includes Quandamooka Elders Aunty Cheryl Rodgers and Uncle Neil Finlay, will facilitate a number of yarning sessions with the local First Nations community to ensure the tool meets the cultural needs of the Quandamooka people.
Co-investigators include Professor Elizabeth Ward and Dr Caitlin Brandenburg from the Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Bayside Director of Occupational Therapy Jennifer Bozhoff, and Occupational Therapist George Saunders.
While developed for Bayside Health Service, the tool has the potential to be adapted for use in other First Nations communities across Queensland and Australia.