Cultural diversity training is key to
improving New South Wales' health
system for children.
Image: iStockphoto

A unique three-year study of children's health services and hospitals in NSW has found cultural diversity policies and practices need to be an essential and integrated part of the health system.

The research conducted by the University of Western Sydney, in collaboration with five partners, including NSW Health, found culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families were, overall, very satisfied with the care their children received; however, misunderstandings and gaps in communication remain significant challenges.

Dr Sharon Chalmers, from the UWS Centre for Cultural Research and a co-author of the report, says the research found children and families from CALD backgrounds experience difficulties accessing health services because of a combination of factors, including: lack of familiarity with the healthcare system, diverse cultural beliefs, values and practices; as well as language, gender and socio-economic issues.

"This unique study provides a useful vehicle to further improve clinical safety; cultural diversity policies and practices in children's health services and hospitals across NSW," says Dr Chalmers.

The researchers followed seven families for up to four months during their interactions with the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick and The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Parents/carers and the children were interviewed at length, while each family's health team were also individually interviewed. This qualitative component was supported by a large multilingual telephone survey of carers who accessed these hospitals.

The main research finding highlighted communication as one of the largest issues. CALD parents and carers found understanding medical information was a key obstacle, while staff experienced difficulties communicating with families. Out of half of those parents who had used an interpreter, 51 per cent also had family or friends interpret medical information for them.

"Multicultural healthcare is vitally important in enhancing accessibility to healthcare services across NSW," says Dr Chalmers.

"It's assumed western healthcare is culturally neutral and value-free with ideas around 'culture' and 'diversity' resting with the families and patients. The people accessing the health system may feel as though they are required to fit into the culture of the hospital.

"But, in the long term, these cultural mismatches - unless addressed in the core activities and functions of the hospital - diminish the equity of access to the best available practise in healthcare.

"Delivering healthcare services which cater for culturally and linguistically diverse people should not be seen as special care or extra services. It's an acknowledgement that Australia is a multicultural society and everyone should have uncompromised access to healthcare," says Dr Chalmers.

The research, which received funding from the Australian Research Council, was in collaboration with NSW Health, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, the Multicultural Health Service (South East Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service) and Community Paediatrics (Sydney South West Area Health Service).