Culture and diversity

Compassionate listening - Managing psychological trauma in refugees

Dr Joanne Gardiner talks about compassionate listening and managing psychological trauma in refugees. Dr Gardiner stresses the importance of good rapport, taking time and addressing patient's concerns. She discusses the important intersection between physical and psychological trauma and the need for GPs to address both aspects. She provides helpful tips on how to sensitively ask about and deal with disclosures of trauma. Dr Gardiner discusses the three different phases of managing trauma and the importance of self-care for GPs working in this area

Duration: 21 minutes 52 seconds
File size: 5MB

Mental health - Cultural competence

Dr John Furler talks about mental health and cultural competence. Dr Furler discusses concepts of depression and anxiety and why cultural and socioeconomic factors are important in mental health work in general practice. He stresses the need to have a flexible approach to this area rather than overly generalising about how different cultural groups may present. Dr Furler discusses the important influence that interpreters can have on consultations and how GPs can go about negotiating a shared understanding with their patients.

Duration: 13 minutes 38 seconds
File size: 3MB

The importance of culture and ethnicity in end of life care

Associate professor Katherine Clark talks about the importance of culture and ethnicity in end of life care. Associate Prof Clark discusses the importance of recognising each patient and family as unique and sensitively asking them what is important to them and what sort of care and support they need. Rather than providing a checklist of different beliefs and practices around death, this podcast and the accompanying article explain how to sensitively approach death and dying with different groups. Important and relevant to any GP involved in palliative care for patients of any cultural group, the podcast and article also touches on useful resources and the key role GPs have in improving access to palliative care services.

Duration: 15 minutes 39 seconds
File size: 4MB

Using interpreter services

Associate Professor Christine Phillips talks about how GPs and practices can most effectively use interpreter services. Associate Professor Phillips outlines the excellent free interpreting services available in Australia and how and when to efficiently access these services. She provides excellent tips for clinicians working with interpreters, particularly around controlling the consultation and making use of the interpreting time to enhance the consultation. She dispels several common myths about interpreter use and talks about what to do when things don’t go well. As all GPs and primary care clinicians will need to use interpreters for at least a proportion of their practice this podcast and the accompanying article are an excellent reference and resource guide.

Duration: 18 minutes 26 seconds
File size: 4MB