Sharing the true stories: evaluating strategies to improve communication between health staff and Aboriginal patients, stage 2 report

Sharing the true stories (STTS), a longitudinal participatory action research (PAR) project (2001?05), has focused on identifying and addressing barriers to effective communication between Aboriginal client groups and health staff in renal and hospital services in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. Research has been conducted in two stages, with Stage 1 aimed at problem identification and ecommendations for remedial action, and Stage 2 focused on developing and evaluating strategies and resources to bring about constructive change in health service delivery to Aboriginal client and community groups. The project in total has involved a focus on Yolnu language speakers from North-East Arnhem Land communities and a subset of Aboriginal patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who access haemodialysis and transplant services in Darwin. Research has been ocated largely at Nightcliff Renal Unit (NRU) and Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) in the metropolitan area, and in a Yolnu community and associated homeland centre in North-East Arnhem Land.Charles Darwin University School of Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems, NT Dept. of Health and Community Services, NT Dept. of Community Development Sport and Cultural Affairs, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Yolnu client and community groups.Date:200