The article presents a scoping review that explores the role of cultural safety within a human rights-based approach to improving the health of Indigenous Peoples. Using a comprehensive methodology, the study identified 39 key studies that link cultural safety to health equity, particularly focusing on Indigenous populations in Australia, Canada, and Aotearoa/New Zealand. The review highlights the importance of integrating cultural safety into healthcare practices and public policies as a legal obligation under international human rights law. It underscores the need for healthcare professionals to be actively involved in culturally safe practices and calls for concrete policy changes to support these initiatives. The findings advocate for a decolonized approach to healthcare, emphasizing the recognition and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge systems and the urgent need to address institutional racism. The study provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse on health equity and cultural safety, offering practical recommendations for both practitioners and policymakers.
The conclusion discusses the importance of cultural safety, but it could be strengthened by providing a more detailed discussion on the practical implications for healthcare professionals and the policy level. Clarify how cultural safety can be implemented in daily clinical practice and which specific public policies could be adjusted or created to promote the health of Indigenous populations.
The methodology for selecting the 37 studies (39 including the two additional ones) is not fully clear. The process of filtering studies and the reasons for including or excluding certain articles were not explained in detail. rovide a more detailed description of the study selection process. Clarify how the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied and why certain studies were retained or discarded. This could include specifying how the initial 147 abstracts were reduced to the final 39 articles and the impact this may have on the robustness of the results. Consider discussing the limitations associated with prioritizing studies with Indigenous populations and how this may influence the study's results. This kind of reflection can enhance transparency and strengthen the research's credibility.