Question

A 72-year-old Indigenous woman from a remote First Nations community in northern Canada with longstanding type 2 diabetes presents to your outreach clinic. She reports previous negative experiences of racism in urban hospitals and is wary of attending specialist appointments. Her HbA1c is 9.2% and she has painful neuropathy. What is the most appropriate initial response to address her expressed concerns and support ongoing care?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge her experiences, explore their impact, and collaborate on a culturally safe care plan that may include community-based supports

Answer

Explain that racism is uncommon and encourage her to attend appointments anyway

Answer

Focus only on adjusting her medications and avoid discussing past experiences

Answer

Inform her that refusing specialist care means you cannot continue to manage her diabetes

Answer

Tell her to bring a family member to interpret and do not engage directly with her concerns

Practice question