Module 4: Related Practice Issues: Trauma-Informed Care, Supporting Strength – based and Resiliency Approaches, Primordial Prevention
Self-reflection Activity: Clinical Practice and Increased Compatibility with Indigenous Well-being
In writing, detail the step-by-step procedures your clinic takes for a CVD/S appointment by an Indigenous woman patient. Make a note of the following:
- What does the patient’s body language tell you? Remember that body language differs from culture to culture.
- Does the patient seem comfortable being there? Is she comfortable describing the reason that she is there (e.g., her symptoms)?
- Does the patient seem to trust the HCPs in the clinic? What makes you think this?
- In what ways do you feel you are respectful to Indigenous women patients? How do you acknowledge their marginalized status in society, and how do you advocate for change?
- Can you suggest ways to make your clinic’s environment more culturally relevant and for Indigenous women patients?
Indigenous women’s perspectives on heart health and well-being include the influence of lifestyle habits, gender roles, relationships, emotional and mental health, and experiences with the healthcare system, with each of these being affected by the lasting impacts of colonization. Factors often not considered within biomedical research, such as trauma, stress, and grief, have all been identified by Indigenous women as contributors to their negative CVD/s outcomes (Gomes et al., 2023).
Indigenous women also describe gender roles and expectations as impacting their ability to self-manage their heart illness, with the burden of caregiving contributing to stress and time spent away from self-care (Gomes et al., 2023).
The next focus in this section is to increase awareness and understanding regarding a few foundational concepts related to Indigenous health and well-being and to consider how this knowledge can enhance your current practice with Indigenous women experiencing CVD/s. The concepts include wholism, trauma-informed care, strength-based and resiliency focus and primordial prevention.
Video Clip: Decolonizing wellness
Gomes, Z., Hart, D., & Downey, B. (2023). Indigenous Women’s Perspectives on Heart Health and Well-being: A Scoping Review. CJC Open, 5(1), 43–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2022.10.007