Differences exist between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patient experiences, but are not universal
A recently published study across 23 countries and 28 populations highlighted the pervasiveness of poor health outcomes among Indigenous people.1 In Australia, while gaps in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people are well documented,2,3 until now little was known about the extent of differences in Aboriginal patients’ experiences of care and self-reported outcomes following hospitalisation. In New South Wales, the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) has recently released a report based on survey responses from 2682 Aboriginal and 22 997 non-Aboriginal patients.4 The report highlights differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients’ experiences, particularly in terms of interpersonal aspects of care, coordination and integration, and patient-reported outcomes. Many of the findings have implications for hospital doctors.