Work

P111 Investigating culturally responsive sleep health; improving outcomes for indigenous people

Year: 2025

Type: conference-abstract

Abstract: Introduction Sleep health disparities are not clearly understood in Indigenous Australians. Research is limited, and health outcomes are influenced by a complex mix of historical, social, cultural and co-morbid chronic disease factors. This study informs the Flinders Foundation Seed grant (FFSG) feasibility and acceptance trial and the “Lets Yarn about Sleep” (LYAS) Obstructive Sleep Aponea (OSA) project which aims to understand the needs of primary health care professionals to engage meaningfully with Indigenous people to improve sleep health access, diagnostics, OSA treatment and improve health outcomes. Methods A mixed method study using a co-design approach. Six participants from Aboriginal community controlled medical health services and public hospital-based service providers attended focus groups in Mt Isa, Queensland. Participant numbers from Darwin, Northern Territory to be advised. The uniquely designed LYAS Visual consent tool, participant demographic survey data, empathy and journey mapping tools capture service providers’ views on culturally responsive sleep care. The observational data from the two workshops will be thematically analysed. Results Workshop participants will identify gaps in knowledge and the barriers and enablers when approaching sleep health conversations in a culturally responsive manner in primary health and specialised sleep services. This study continues the work of FFSG First Nations, LYAS OSA project and further findings are to come. Discussion This study adds culturally valuable knowledge to improving sleep health outcomes and enhances the understanding of clinicians’ challenges when discussing sleep health issues with Indigenous people.

Source: SLEEP Advances

DOI: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpaf053.171

Authors: A Mackenzie, N Grivell, C Watson, R Von Senden, Y Fatima, C Chai-Coetzer

Institutions: Flinders University, Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, University of the Sunshine Coast

Language: English

Topic: Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,054