Extensive research has been carried out on communication between health staff and patients, particularly in the area of doctor-patient communication. Effective communication is recognised as being crucial to achieving optimal health care, yet there have been few investigations of the extent and consequences of miscommunication in the context of Indigenous Australian health care despite the recognition that communication difficulties between health staff and Aboriginal patients are a major barrier to improving health outcomes.
This project, Sharing the true stories, was a response to the need to develop a more informed understanding of intercultural communication in Aboriginal health care and to identify strategies to improve communication.
