Exploring cultural safety and person- and patient-centred care in general practice
Voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22424573 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kay Brumpton (0000-0002-9841-9445, Griffith University, corresponding author), Rebecca Evans (0009-0005-3230-6746, James Cook University), Tarun Sen Gupta (0000-0001-7698-1413, James Cook University), Raelene Ward (0000-0002-6248-7921, University of Southern Queensland) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | BMC Medical Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1472-6920 • E-ISSN: 1472-6920 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s12909-026-09061-6 |
| PMID | 41904486 |
| OpenAlex | W7142494354 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 22 |
BACKGROUND: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia continue to experience significant health disparities rooted in the ongoing impacts of colonisation, systemic racism, and cultural disconnection. While patient-centred care (PCC) is widely promoted as a gold standard for high quality and respectful healthcare, its application to meet the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in general practice remains poorly understood. Instead, cultural safety has been offered as a contextually grounded approach to care, one that critically examines power imbalances, cultural identity, and the historical forces shaping healthcare experiences. OBJECTIVE: To examine the alignment between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives on interacting with general practitioners (GPs) and the principles of PCC and culturally safe care. METHODS: A mixed method-approach was employed, beginning with a survey and followed by qualitative interviews that underwent thematic analysis. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults with experiences of general practice care were invited to participate. RESULTS: Seventy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participated. Findings highlight the centrality of a trusting and caring relationships, effective communication, respect for diverse Indigenous identities, individualised care, clinical competence and the GP’s attitude. Key enablers of culturally safe care included adequate time, continuity of care, genuine engagement, informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, and a physically welcoming environment. CONCLUSION: Our study found significant diversity in participant perspectives, reinforcing that a ‘one-size fits all’ approach is inappropriate. The principles of PCC support culturally safe care through adaptability and respect for patient values.
Cultural competence · Cultural diversity · Cultural safety · Health care · Indigenous · Pacific islanders · Qualitative research · Thematic analysis · Cultural Competency in Health Care · Global Health Workforce Issues · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
“Same same or different?” A review of reviews of person-centered and patient-centered care
An Integrative Model of Patient-Centeredness – A Systematic Review and Concept Analysis
Racism as a Determinant of Health
Toward good practice in thematic analysis
Healthcare in a land called PeoplePower
Voice–Validating Outcomes by Including Consumer Experience
Aboriginal community controlled health organisations address health equity through action on the social determinants of health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia
A consistent definition of cultural safety within Australian health professional education
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |