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RACS ASC 2025
Literature review: Cultural Competency in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Burn Injuries
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Verbal Presentation

10:50 am

04 May 2025

Meeting Room C4.3

Research Papers

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Institution: Royal Darwin Hospital - Northern Territory, Australia

Purpose Research focused on culturally safe management of aboriginal and Torres Strait islander (ATSI) burn injuries is limited. This review summarises literature on the management of burn injuries in Indigenous populations in a culturally safe and competent manner. Methods: A search was conducted in CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE and Pubmed for “cultural competency OR cultural safety” and "burn OR scars OR scald" and "Aboriginal OR Indigenous OR First Nation OR OR Torres Strait Islander.” Inclusion criteria included studies of burns in Indigenous Australian persons published in English. Studies were excluded if there was no data specific to Indigenous burns. Results: Five studies were included for review. They were published between 2015 and 2021. Results include qualitative cross-sectional studies, reviews and a protocol for a prospective cohort study. Barriers identified to providing culturally safe care were families perceiving disrespectful care, feelings of isolation and difficulties in access to follow-up and rehabilitation. There is also under-utilisation of aboriginal liaison officers (ALO). Conclusion There is a gap in literature regarding culturally safe and competent practices required to meet the needs of ATSI burn patients which contributes to the disparities in health outcomes. Health policy and management is predominantly influenced by Western biomedical paradigms. Healthcare services lack the relevant resources to adequately address the gap in cultural safety when providing care for these patients. One solution is the early utilisation of ALO in burn care teams to address this.
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Dr Caroline Lam -