CREATIVE INSPIRATION INFORMS A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SPIROMETRY TRAINING PROGRAM

Abstract

Introduction: First Nations Australians have a high burden of respiratory disease. The Indigenous Health Worker Spirometry Training Program (IHWSTP) was developed in response to an identified need for health workers delivering respiratory care. However, the suitability of the program to meet their needs was not known. Aim: To evaluate the program and identify key components to ensure culturally safe and responsive learning. Method: Consenting participants were recruited and completed an anonymous Likert survey and written feedback immediately after a two-day face-to-face IHWSTP. The feedback informed continuous improvements and insight into the cultural safety of the course. Written responses were analysed in NVIVO. Thematic analysis was undertaken by two qualitative researchers. Themes and subthemes were assigned both deductively and inductively to identify the key components of the IHWSTP. Results: Sixty workshops, 498 participants (2012-2024) with 368 (73.9%) working in Indigenous roles and 50% (249) completing feedback. Workshop adaptions were based on audit and feedback cycles. Seven core themes were identified (Fig). Almost all participants agreed/strongly agreed IHWSTP was culturally appropriate and relevant. Conclusion: IHWSTP is a culturally safe and responsive way for Indigenous clinicians to effectively learn spirometry. The seven core components may show promise for developing other curricula on clinical skills training for First Nations clinicians.