“Just ask!” Identifying as Indigenous in mainstream general practice settings: a consumer perspective

To the Editor: The Australian Government is seeking to reduce Indigenous disadvantage through its “Closing the Gap” strategy.1 One challenge, however, is incomplete identification of Indigenous status in health and administrative data collections and the necessary caution in interpreting statistics because of such underestimates.2-5 For planning, expenditure, access to and equity of health services, governments need to ensure that Indigenous data collections are accurate. A key area of interest is self-reported Indigenous identification in mainstream general practice settings. Research has focused on general practitioners’ perspectives,6 but not those of Indigenous patients.

We conducted a qualitative study that explored the views of Indigenous Australians residing in the Australian Capital Territory who were recruited through a range of Indigenous organisations and differed in age, sex and social background. Participants gave written informed consent to face-to-face interviews, in which they were invited to describe their experiences of being asked their Indigenous status in mainstream general practice settings — including their understanding of why people are asked about their Indigenous identity and views on how they should be asked.

Of the 28 participants (age range, 18–78 years), 12 were men, 18 were Aboriginal, five were Torres Strait Islander, and five identified as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. All had used mainstream general practice services in the ACT. Six reported ever having identified as Indigenous in that setting, although it is unclear how many were asked their Indigenous status. Some reported having been mistaken for being either from another country or non-Indigenous. All stated they would identify as Indigenous if asked, but felt it was essential to be provided with information explaining the rationale for the question — in particular, how it would benefit them if they did identify as such. It was suggested that pamphlets or posters explaining the benefits of identifying could create cultural safety. Participants emphasised the need for appropriate training of practice staff on the rationale for asking the identifier question and how to ask it respectfully.

Several themes reflecting issues that would influence an individual’s decision to identify as Indigenous emerged: previous racism in the community; the patient–doctor relationship; the perception that discussing identity would lengthen consultation times; practice staff’s assumed motives for asking; and recognition of the culture and diversity of Indigenous Australians (Box). The principal message was that the process for asking needs to be kept brief and simple. An acceptable form of words was agreed by all participants to be: “For the purpose of providing the best care possible, can you please tell me if you are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?”

This research highlights the need for GPs to “Just ask!” and to ensure that the Indigenous identifier question and explanation are conveyed consistently and appropriately. Further research in other primary care settings could evaluate the approach that we advocate. Aboriginal medical services provide culturally secure services based on Aboriginal preferences.7 Participants in this study have provided guidance on how similarly culturally secure services could be provided in mainstream general practice.