"Are they just experimenting with all of us?" Cultural considerations for clinicians caring for seriously ill Great Plains American Indians

"Are they just experimenting with all of us?" Cultural considerations for clinicians caring for seriously ill Great Plains American Indians
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care; Bethany-Rose Daubman, Tinka Duran, Gina Johnson, Alexander Soltoff, Sara J Purvis, Leroy J R LaPlante, Sean Jackson, Daniel Petereit, Matthew Tobey, Katrina Armstrong, Mary J Isaacson; 3/25
Serious illnesses like cancer disproportionately affect American Indians and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Peoples. AI/AN patients deserve culturally responsive healthcare at all times, and especially when journeying through serious illness. Interviews and talking circle qualitative analysis revealed 3 major themes related to clinician needs: cultural considerations, psychosocial support, and trust. It is important for clinicians to engage in cultural education and work to improve systemic deficiencies such as a lack of psychosocial support. An overarching theme was also the need for clinicians to seek to develop trustworthiness and earn trust when caring for AI/AN patients experiencing serious illness.