Outcomes from a collaborative project developing and evaluating a community rehabilitation worker program for Northwestern Ontario First Nations

• Published in: Rural and Remote Health
• Main Authors: Helle Møller, Robert Baxter, Alison Denton, Esme French, Mary Ellen Hill, Taryn Klarner, Garth Nothing, Marlene Quequish, Joan Rae, Kirsti Reinikka, Shane Strickland, Denise Taylor
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: James Cook University 2023
• Subjects: Special situations and conditions; RC952-1245; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; First Nations
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH7809; https://doaj.org/article/ef708e1255584439b1269f58ff918d67

Introduction: Major inequities exist in levels of health and wellbeing, availability, and access to healthcare services between seniors of Indigenous and non-Indigenous background in Ontario. First Nations elders are 45-55% more frail than the average senior in Ontario. Additionally, needed rehabilitation services are not easily accessible or available in the first language of most First Nations elders within their home communities. A literature review demonstrated community-based rehabilitation assistant models had been successfully developed and implemented in regions facing similar equity and access challenges. Building on these findings, a needs assessment was conducted to capture unique needs and requirements in Northwestern Ontario relating to rehabilitation among First Nations elders. Methods: The needs assessment resulted in four First Nations, three Indigenous health organizations, three rehabilitation health organizations, and two academic institutions iteratively developing and evaluating curriculum for a Community Rehabilitation Worker (CRW) program in treaty territories 5, 9, and Robinson-Superior. The goal of the program is to train local CRWs, familiar with local languages and cultures, to provide rehabilitative services that support ageing in place, health, wellbeing, and quality of life for First Nations elders. The study employed a community participatory action research approach aligning with the OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) framework for working with Indigenous populations. Seventeen community partners were active participants in the program development, evaluation, and adaptation of the CRW curriculum. Feedback was received through advisory committee meetings, surveys, and individual and group interviews. Results: All 101 participants agreed, across all curriculum modules, that (1) the time allotment was realistic; (2) instructional materials, activities, and resources were appropriate and easy to understand; (3) evaluation activities accurately measured learning; and ...