- Title
- Enhancing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community understanding and utilisation of mental health services in Victoria
- Creator
- Radhamony, Reshmy
- Date
- 2022
- Type
- Text; Thesis; PhD
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/194494
- Identifier
- vital:18364
- Abstract
- The increase in cultural diversity (CD) in Victoria, Australia, demands healthcare professionals to acquire cultural competence. Literature reveals that people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities can be disadvantaged in terms of mental health service access and utilisation and the appropriateness of the health care they receive following access. Cultural competence has been advocated as a necessary step to alleviate health disparities and reduce bias and prejudices associated with culturally diverse people. Cultural competence has been endorsed in the government and professional bodies’ policies and guidelines for a long time. Whether this has prepared the mental health nursing workforce with sufficient knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to be culturally competent, is still questionable. Evidence shows that significant barriers such as language and communication, cultural differences, and a lack of cultural sensitivity by mental health nurses (MHN) limit the quality of care provided to people from various non-dominant cultures. The primary aim of this study was to examine whether an educational intervention can improve mental health nurses' knowledge, behaviour, and attitude. Hence this multiple-method study focused on the educational needs of a cross-section of MHNs in Victoria, utilising online surveys and semi-structured interviews. This project undertook a gap analysis through telephone interviews with the CALD community members in Victoria regarding their mental health service needs and experiences. Then developed, implemented, and evaluated an online education package – “Acknowledging Diversity”, regarding cultural awareness and responsiveness for mental health nurses working with people from CALD communities. A CIPP (Context, Input, Process and Product) model evaluation of the education package confirmed its effectiveness. Andersen's Behavioural Model of Health service use (ABMHSU) was the underlying theoretical framework for this study. The study's findings were further analysed using the contextual variables of Andersen’s model. The study outcome for mental health nurses was improved knowledge, attitude, and competence about the needs of people from CALD backgrounds, even though the findings were not statistically significant. However, it has been conceded that cultural competence cannot be achieved in a single education session. Therefore, attaining cultural proficiency is a continuous process that requires motivation and persistence from MHNs and ongoing cultural encounters with the CALD population. Examining how educational interventions improved MHNs’ cultural competency to facilitate CALD community understanding and utilisation of mental health services also identified the gaps in knowledge to report future research areas.; Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- Federation University Australia
- Rights
- All metadata describing materials held in, or linked to, the repository is freely available under a CC0 licence
- Rights
- Copyright Reshmy Radhamony
- Rights
- Open Access
- Subject
- CALD community Mental health nurses; Mental health care services; Telephone interviews; Online surveys; Semi-structured interviews; Cultural diversity; Cultural competence behaviours; Cultural awareness and sensitivity; Online education package
- Full Text
- Thesis Supervisor
- Cross, Wendy
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