Aboriginal and Torres strait islander patients and their family's experience when engaging in discharge

Since the 1980s, academic literature in the health field has focused on the barriers and enablers patients experience at admission, during discharge consultations, preparation for discharge and post-discharge. This paper reviews the barriers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients may encounter during discharge from a hospital setting back into the community. Currently, this is one of few papers which discusses the complications around culturally safe discharge planning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. This paper seeks to make a contribution to the knowledge and awareness of social workers, other allied health professionals, nurses, and doctors, in the health field. Research was gathered from twelve databases using twelve key terms of reference. Preliminary research uncovered five core themes which are applicable to the discharge of Aboriginal patients. These overarching themes are: non-compliance, lack of understanding, supports, insufficient resources, and inadequate systems and processes. Sub-themes of medication adherence, discharge against medical advice (DAMA), men's and women's business, low health literacy, inadequate systems, community consultation, poor communication, family involvement in discharge planning, community resources, and service availability and transport, is discussed in further detail. Implications of the research is discussed in relation to the cultural safety framework, community consultation and policy development, and the discharge planning process.