Join us with the UBC Learning Circle in our conversation with Jennifer Dehoney, Dr. David Tu and Elder Roberta Price from the Vancouver Native Health Society on incorporating Indigenous knowledge into clinical practices.
This “research work in progress” presentation will be co-facilitated by an Indigenous Elder, an Indigenous Physiotherapist, and a non-Indigenous Family Physician, and attendees will participate in a Coast Salish welcoming and closing ceremony. This session explores the impact of the Vancouver Indigenous Elder’s Partnership (VIP) program on the care provided at an inner-city medical clinic in British Columbia. Presenters will draw from the two-year clinical experience of providing a “partnership model” of care with Indigenous Elders (to 300 patients), and from CIHR funded implementation and effectiveness research projects.
Clinical cases will be presented to illustrate the conceptual framework and processes of care provided by this program. Through the VIP program, patients book 1:1 appointments with Elders for mental health, cultural or other support and/or attend weekly, Elder-led cultural teaching circles in the same clinic where they receive medial care.
Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with Elders, care providers, and support staff to understand the program’s implementation challenges, opportunities, and impact on patient care, staff and organizational culture. A thematic analysis of transcripts was conducted with balanced Indigenous / non-indigenous perspectives. Key findings included: that patient care was impacted through having spiritual health needs met; that “felt safety” at the clinic increased, and that Indigenous health education through relationship and ceremony with Elders changes physician practice to be more culturally safe and appropriate.
A mixed-methods prospective cohort study (n=44) was initiated to measure the effectiveness of this intervention on depression and suicidality (measured at 1, 3, and 6 months post entry into the program). Secondary measures included impacts on substance use, resilience, wellness, and quality of life. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at 3 months for all study participants to determine the impact of this program on their lives. To date, 28 individuals have completed all three quantitative measures, and 32 have completed qualitative interviews. Data analysis, transcription and coding to transcripts is still underway with data collection completing in Fall 2016.. Baseline measures and selected transcript excerpts will be presented for discussion.
Session Video:
PDF Version of PowerPoint Presentation:
Partnering Traditional-Indigenous and contemporary-Western Approaches to Health and Healing\
Topics of Conversation:
- The Determinants of Indigenous Peoples Health
- Partnering Physicians and Elders to Increase Cultural Safety
- Our program – Deliverables, Successes & Challenges
- Mental Health & Wellness Outcomes – preliminary findings from our CIHR-funded research study
Everyone Welcome to Participate:
Date: Thursday, October 6, 2016 [Registration is now closed]
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am (PST)
About our Presenters:
Elder Roberta Price, BEd, is of the Snuneymuxw and Cowichan First Nations has worked tirelessly over the past three decades to educate and raise awareness about issues affecting First Nations people in a positive, informative, and productive manner. She does this by working as a First Nations educator, sharing her traditional knowledge in schools, within the community, and with First Nations people.
Healing is something Roberta is familiar with as she recalls a very painful childhood survived in foster care. Feeling isolated and separated from her culture took a toll on her. Today, she has “risen up” and is completely devoted to being an agent of positive change. The mother of four and grandmother of eight shared for the longest time, she thought she was doing the work for her children, but now realizes it’s for her grandchildren. She’s involved in many communities in the lower mainland. She’s member of the Board of Directors of Pacific Association of First Nations Women, involved in hospitals, she’s a VIP in Vancouver Native Health Society. As well she’s been involved with the UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health for numerous years presenting with the UBC Learning Circle and teaching Cultural Competency and Humility with the upcoming medical students in the IHHS 408 program.
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Jennifer Dehoney, BHK, BSc.(PT), a member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation and is a physiotherapist and wellness coach. She has an interest in partnering with people on their wellness journeys and supporting positive change and enhanced resilience. She has an interest in the actions of reconciliation through creating change within the health care system to create spaces and relationships that provide more relevant, respectful and effective care for Indigenous people. She is privileged to work with the brilliant and compassionate Indigenous Elders and clinicians in the Mmmooooooke Na Sii Yea Yeaaa (All my Relations) Program – which is a partnership model of care between Indigenous Elders and Western-trained clinicians. She is also passionate about spending time beachside and on forested trails with her husband and their two young children.
Jennifer Dehoney
Physiotherapist & Wellness Coach
Program Lead, MMNSYY Program, Vancouver Native Health Society
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Email: jendehoney@gmail.com
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Dr. David Tu, MD, CCFP is a Canadian Family Physician with a clinical focus on inner-city medicine, and research interests in Indigenous Peoples Health, HIV, Hepatitis C and Depression. He currently works as a clinician for the Vancouver Native Health Society Clinic and the UBC Aboriginal Family Practice Residency Stream. Dr. Tu is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columba’s Department of Family Practice. His current research has focuses on the development and effectiveness of partnership models of care between Traditional Indigenous and Modern health care practices.
Dr. David Tu, MD, CCFP.
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia,
Research Coordinator, Vancouver Native Health Society,
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Email: davidtu9@gmail.com
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