Native American Cultural Education for Providers at an Oupatient Psychiatry Practice

Abstract

Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to educate providers about blending traditional practices with Western healing to better support the Native American community and ensure culturally appropriate care. The project was conducted at Camelback Integrated Health and Wellness (CIHW) in Phoenix, Arizona. Background:Native American patients often face health disparities due to a lack of culturally competent care. Historical trauma, mistrust of the healthcare system, and a non-holistic view of health contribute to these disparities. Research shows that provider training in cultural care can improve provider attitudes, decrease implicit bias, and enhance patient outcomes. Methods:The design utilized for the QI project was a quantitative pretest. An educational PowerPoint presentation was developed and presented to seven providers at CIHW. Pre- and post-test surveys were administered to assess changes in provider attitudes and practices regarding culturally sensitive care. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey results, which were visually displayed using summary tables and pie charts. Results: Pre-test results revealed that 57% of providers ‘sometimes’ considered a patient’s cultural background in treatment planning. Post-test results showed that 71% of providers reported they would now always consider a patient’s cultural background. In terms of providing culturally sensitive care, 71% of providers initially ‘sometimes’ took steps to be culturally sensitive, with only 14% always doing so. Post-test results indicated improvements in these practices. Providers identified limited resources and a need for further education as significant barriers to implementing culturally sensitive care. Conclusions:The QI project successfully increased provider awareness and willingness to integrate Native American cultural practices into patient care. Educating providers on culturally sensitive care is crucial for reducing health disparities and improving patient outcomes. Continued efforts to provide ongoing education and address identified barriers are essential for sustaining culturally informed care at CIHW.