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The benefits of a tailor‐made pilot primary health‐care course for Indigenous high school students in remote Queensland
Author(s) -
Pham Xiuzhi,
Page Priscilla,
Sivamalai Sundram,
Woolley Torres
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2012.01268.x
Subject(s) - pride , indigenous , thematic analysis , medical education , community health , qualitative research , health care , nursing , psychology , medicine , sociology , public health , political science , ecology , social science , law , biology
Objective: This study highlights the benefits of a tailor‐made course for an Indigenous high school in a remote North Queensland community. Design: Qualitative research study using a Grounded Theory approach to allow thematic analysis of participant's responses to a researcher‐administered, pre‐defined, semistructured questionnaire. Setting: Remote community college in Abergowrie, North Queensland. Participants: Four male high school students and eight key stakeholders were interviewed over the telephone (n = 12). Results: Thematic analyses of the feedback from students and stakeholders showed a variety of benefits from the course for Indigenous students: increased knowledge of health issues, greater awareness and interest in health career pathways, increased pride, self‐esteem and self‐confidence, positive role‐modelling and leadership behaviour in the students, and hope for future career development. Weaknesses identified were mainly associated with a lack of resources and support for the course. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a tailor‐made primary health‐care education course can create opportunities for Indigenous people to pursue health careers, promote health knowledge and leadership skills, inspire pride and self‐esteem, and strengthen links within the community.