Health disparities, cultural awareness, and Indigenous health: Results from a health educator survey

Abstract

Indigenous peoples in multiple settings suffer an increased chronic disease burden compared to non-Indigenous peoples. Interpersonal “racism or discrimination on the part of health care providers” can contribute to this.

The Health Educator Survey tool investigates Australian and New Zealand health educator’s perspectives on health disparities between groups. Participants were asked to nominate the location of health disparities in the curriculum, including who was accountable for the content, and to nominate whether the content was placed within a health disparity context or separately.

Risks identified included a lack of consistency in teaching, and teaching in a prescriptive style that could lead to the stereotyping of people of different ethnicities. Participants also identified a lack of professional training in health disparities.