Investigating culturally responsive sleep health to improve outcomes for Indigenous people
Introduction
Sleep health disparities are not clearly understood in Indigenous Australians. Research is limited, and health outcomes are influenced by a complex mix of historical, social, cultural and co-morbid chronic disease factors. This study informs a collaborative Flinders Foundation Seed Grant (FFSG) and “Lets Yarn about Sleep” (LYAS) Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) project which aims to understand the needs of health professionals to engage meaningfully in conversations with Indigenous people to improve sleep health access, diagnostics, OSA treatment and health outcomes.
Methods
A mixed method study using a co-design approach. Six participants from Aboriginal community controlled medical health services and public hospital-based service providers attended focus groups in Mt Isa, Queensland. The workshop in Darwin, Northern Territory is still to be conducted. The uniquely designed LYAS Visual Information consent tool, participant demographic survey data, empathy and journey mapping tools capture service providers’ views on culturally responsive sleep care. The observational data from the two workshops will be thematically analysed.
Results
Workshop participants will identify gaps in knowledge and the barriers and enablers when approaching sleep health conversations in a culturally responsive manner in primary health and specialised sleep services. This study informs the community co-designed FFSG First Nations OSA project.
Discussion
This study will enhance the understanding of clinicians' challenges when discussing sleep health issues with Indigenous people. This adds culturally valuable knowledge to improving sleep health outcomes.