Lewis Melissa E, Blackmore Ivy, Kamaka Martina L, Wildcat Sky, Anderson-Buettner Amber, Modde Elizabeth, Myhra Laurelle, Smith Jamie B, Stately Antony L
Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Independent Researcher, St. Louis, MO 63124, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Mar 17;22(3):445. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22030445.
The quality of healthcare experiences for Indigenous communities is worse when compared to non-Indigenous patients. Bias and discrimination within healthcare systems relate to worsened care and worsened health outcomes for Indigenous patients. The purpose of this study was to learn about the experiences of Indigenous people within healthcare settings, as well as their viewpoints for improving healthcare delivery to this population.
Indigenous research methods were employed in this study as clinic administrators and staff, elders, and Indigenous researchers collaborated on the study purpose, design, and analysis. Twenty Indigenous patients participated in one of four focus groups regarding their experiences with healthcare systems.
Seven main themes emerged, highlighting participants' experiences during health encounters, in relation to healthcare systems, and Indigenous health beliefs. Participants discussed challenges and barriers in each area and offered recommendations for care delivery to this population.
Participants in this study highlighted that biased care results in poor quality of healthcare delivery and that there are actionable steps that providers and systems of healthcare can take to reduce bias within healthcare systems. The provision of culturally congruent care is imperative in improving the health and well-being of Indigenous communities.
与非原住民患者相比，原住民社区的医疗体验质量更差。医疗系统中的偏见和歧视与原住民患者护理质量下降和健康结果恶化有关。本研究的目的是了解原住民在医疗环境中的经历，以及他们对改善该人群医疗服务的看法。
本研究采用原住民研究方法，诊所管理人员和工作人员、长者以及原住民研究人员就研究目的、设计和分析进行了合作。20名原住民患者参加了四个焦点小组之一，讨论他们在医疗系统中的经历。
出现了七个主要主题，突出了参与者在医疗接触过程中的经历、与医疗系统的关系以及原住民健康信仰。参与者讨论了每个领域的挑战和障碍，并为该人群的护理提供提出了建议。
本研究的参与者强调，有偏见的护理会导致医疗服务质量低下，医疗服务提供者和系统可以采取切实可行的措施来减少医疗系统中的偏见。提供符合文化的护理对于改善原住民社区的健康和福祉至关重要。
