Identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status by general practice registrars: confidence and associations

Background Identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status in healthcare settings is essential for the delivery of culturally appropriate care. Under-identification is common and practitioner confidence is a known barrier. Objective/s The objective of this research was to document the self-reported confidence of general practice registrars in identifying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status of their patients, and associations of this confidence. Methods This research used cross-sectional analysis of survey and patient encounter data of general practice registrars training across five Australian states. Results Of the 698 registrars (97.5% response rate) who participated in the study, 74.5% had a high level of confidence in identifying a patient’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status. Older and more senior registrars had significantly greater confidence. There was also a significant association with the registrars’ training provider. Discussion More than a quarter of registrars reported low confidence for this basic consultation skill. Our findings will inform general practice vocational training and continuing professional development, and reinforce the importance of a comprehensive, system-wide approach to the identification of patients’ Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status.