W. Y. C. Cheng|Philip Blum|Brian Spain
Barriers to Effective Perioperative Communication in Indigenous Australians: An Audit of Progress since 1996
Royal Darwin Hospital|Royal Darwin Hospital|Royal Darwin Hospital
prospective study designed elucidate barriers limiting effective perioperative communication indigenous australians anaesthetists identify strategies improving communication questionnaire used collect data 1040 consecutive patients undergoing anaesthesia royal darwin hospital february march 2003 271 patients described aboriginal aboriginal patients likely undergo emergency surgery likely classified asa 3 4 5 nonindigenous patients communication difficulties identified 287 aboriginal patients 31 times higher nonaboriginal patients common reason identified difficulty speaking english 177 aboriginal patients presenting operating theatre spoke english first language unfortunately anaesthetic team utilized aboriginal interpreter service minority cases communication difficulty indigenous australians pervasive often goes unrecognized results suggest heath care providers may need staff training crosscultural communication protocols need developed within health care system interpreters called upon automatically early admission process