Implementation of anti-racism strategies to improve health outcomes for First Nations peoples in a large urban hospital

Implementation of anti-racism strategies to improve health outcomes for First Nations peoples in Caboolture Hospital.

Despite efforts to Closing the Gap in health outcomes between First Nations Peoples and non-Indigenous Australians the gap remains. In Australia there is considerable evidence of poorer outcomes in hospitals and healthcare facilities for First Nations peoples. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, attributes 53% of the health gap to social determinants of health and behaviours and the remaining 47% attributable to institutional racism, interpersonal racism and intergenerational trauma. Racism in this context, is defined as personal, interpersonal and institutional racism. Anti-racism is ideas and actions that seek to ameliorate racism. We will trial an Australian first antiracism intervention for implementation and evaluation in two health care service areas at Caboolture Hospital; the emergency department and maternity services. 

Caboolture is an outer metropolitan area north of Brisbane with lower SES, and a First Nations population of 5.1%. Our study will implement an antiracism intervention by firstly identifying and documenting cases of racism reported by First Nations Peoples who have used Caboolture Hospital as well as yarns with hospital staff and current clients about their experiences of racism, and then use these to develop and implement an antiracism intervention centred around cultural safety but multipronged in its approach. 

We will utilise participatory action research and developmental evaluation to conduct our study enabling participation and agile approaches to our study. Our study will build upon current responses to achieving health equity for First Nations Peoples in Queensland Health. We will also develop with co-design approaches a set of outcomes measures for piloting at the two units where we will implement the antiracism interventions These outcomes will focus on health care access, utilisation and health outcomes.