What is cultural

safety, and why

is it important?
Learning objectives:

Define cultural safety

Describe how a physician becomes culturally

competent

Distinguish between cultural awareness,

cultural sensitivity, and cultural safety

Analyze your individual biases and

prejudices and how racism might play a role
while providing care
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Cultural Awareness,
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Cultural Sensitivity, & Cultural Safety.
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What's the difference?
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Cultural Safety
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Analyzing power imbalances,
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institutional discrimination,
Cultural Sensitivity
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colonization, and colonial
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relationships that apply to
Alerts learnerhealthcare
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difference. Begins a process self-
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exploration as the powerful bearers
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Cultural Awareness
of their own realities and the impact
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Beginning this
step may have
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toward on others that
understanding
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there is difference.
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Sensitive to ritual and practice, rather than
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the emotional, social, economic and political
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context in which people exist.
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 Cultural Safety
• Risk of cultural safety education- Stereotyping
all Aboriginal people. But the greater risk is not
critically discussing marginalization and health.

• Cultural safety refers to a state whereby a

provider embraces the skill of self-reflection as a
means to advancing a therapeutic encounter with
First Nations, Inuit, Métis peoples.

• Self-reflection in this case is underpinned by an

understanding of power differentials.

• For FN/I/M communities this power imbalance is

unequal and can be seen as a residual element of
colonization and act as a barrier to facilitating
health and healing.

IPAC, 2009
 Rationale
Frequently, cultural
differences and the inability of
health care providers to
appropriately address these
differences have contributed
to high rates of non-
compliance, reluctance to visit
mainstream health facilities
even when service is needed.

Naho, 2008
 So what does culturally
safe care look like
in the workplace?

• Environment

• Knowledge Think about what you know

about ceremony, health
beliefs, the role of family, how
health care is administered,
intergenerational trauma.
• Actions
How can you use this
information everyday?
 Dealing with racism and
stereotyping everyday
Often when a inappropriate comment
is made individuals are not sure how
to react. Although the remark may
have offended them and others
individuals struggle to speak up due to
embarrassment, and not wanting to
hurt someone's feelings or cause a
scene.

Standing your ground can educate,

provide feedback, and make your
limits on respectable ways of
interacting clear to the other person.

(University of Victoria , 2010)

 Specifically, in a calm and respectful way:

•describe the behaviour that is offensive

•express your feelings about its effects (own your emotions, for example, I
felt this way, when you said ...)

•surface and clarify assumptions (I need to clarify what you meant and let you
know that ...)

•discuss and acknowledge intents (I think it is important to talk about what

you said because I am concerned these remarks feed racism and
stereotyping, or ...)

•set limits (It is not okay to make that type of remark because it is
disrespectful, so please do not do so around me any more. I would also
appreciate you taking some time to think about all of this.)

(University of Victoria , 2010)

 Confrontation exercise
• Person A: stereotypes, or makes an offensive
remark, to Person B
Person B: gives feedback to Person A by doing
what he/she thinks is appropriate, using the steps
above as a guide
Person C: observes the other two and comments
on the effectiveness of Person B's feedback
Person A: comments on Person B's effectiveness.
Take turns so that everyone has a chance to play
all three roles.

• Talk together about how you felt. Did giving

feedback work? Did you feel comfortable giving
feedback? Receiving feedback? Do you think you
would try this in "real life"?
(University of Victoria , 2010)