Online Learning to Support Culturally Safe Communication with First Nations Australians in Radiation Therapy: A Pre-Post Intervention Study.

Abstract

IntroductionCulturally safe communication is essential for supporting First Nations Australians undergoing radiation therapy. First Nations Australian patients, however, often face barriers in accessing culturally safe communication and cancer care. This study evaluates changes in healthcare professionals' (HCPs) confidence, skills, and knowledge in culturally safe communication with First Nations cancer patients after completing an online learning program.MethodsThis single group pre-post intervention study recruited HCPs from three regional Australian cancer centres. Pre- and post-training surveys, administered via Qualtrics, assessed self-reported confidence, knowledge, and communication skills for engaging with First Nations radiation therapy patients. Participants completed an online learning program consisting of three self-directed modules focused on cultural competency, health literacy and communication, and application of an Indigenous radiation therapy talking book resource. The post-training survey also included module evaluation items. Pre- and post-training data were analysed using paired-sample t-tests (α = 0.05). Descriptive statistics and content analysis were applied to evaluate participant feedback.ResultsOf the 49 participants recruited, 38 participated in this study, most were non-Indigenous (94.7%), 52.6% were radiation therapists, and 65.8% reported seeing between 11-50 First Nations Australian patients annually. The participants' mean confidence in communicating with First Nations Australian patients increased from 3.50 to 4.03 (p = 0.006), and preparedness to support patient needs rose from 3.55 to 3.95 (p = 0.04). The online modules were highly rated as good or excellent by 95% of participants.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate that tailored online learning modules can significantly enhance HCP's self-reported confidence, skills, and knowledge in communicating with First Nations cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. Integrating training into routine practice may promote more culturally responsive cancer care, strengthening engagement and support for First Nations Australian radiation therapy patients.