Cultural Humility Immersive Assessment (CHIA)

Coatlicue Sierra Rose

Impact

  • The research collective is anticipated to contribute to improved mental health outcomes for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) populations in Saskatchewan and across Canada by preparing future healthcare providers to deliver more culturally responsive care.

  • This fundamental research contributed to reducing ethnocentric beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours towards individuals who identify as BIPOC in the health care system.

  • Findings informed the development of immersive training modules that reflected the authentic mental health needs of BIPOC communities, supporting efforts toward decolonization within the healthcare system.

  • The project has generated a wide range of scholarly and community-based outputs, including national and international conference presentations, academic manuscripts, and the development of new interdisciplinary research initiatives, significantly contributing to knowledge mobilization and advancing dialogue on decolonization and cultural safety in healthcare.

“As a new Canadian of colour from a marginalized intersectional background, MHRC and SHRF’s generous support of my developing research program set me up for the success I’m realizing now. I learned valuable real-world lessons on respectful Indigenous relations in Canada, the regulatory and pedagogical landscape for healthcare professional education, the research ethics approval process in Canada, the existence of opportunities to decolonize healthcare in Canada leveraging cutting-edge immersive technologies, and leadership in research and development.”

— Coatlicue Sierra Rose

  • Saskatchewan

  • Studentship

  • University of Regina

  • Saskatchewan College of Paramedics

  • Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF)

  • 2022-2023

  • Digital Health

  • People at work, Healthcare Workers, Racialized Persons

About the Project

This project aimed to establish a foundation for using virtual reality (VR) technology to develop immersive modules for the assessment and training of cultural competencies and humility for the healthcare workforce. The research sought to enhance the preparedness of future healthcare professionals by deepening their understanding of the mental health experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) community leaders and health practitioners in Saskatchewan, with the overarching objective to mitigate culturally incongruent care and advance equitable mental health outcomes.

These efforts led to the development of a more targeted and representative version of the original CHIA Project: the CHIA Photovoice BIPOC Needs Assessment Pilot. This new phase of the project aims to better reflect the specific needs of BIPOC populations and is currently undergoing Research Ethics Board (REB) review at the University of Regina. Plans are also in place to expand the project into other healthcare sectors in future phases.

Methodology

This phase of the project involved conducting interviews and surveys with BIPOC community leaders and health practitioners in Saskatchewan who had lived experience with mental health challenges and/or culturally grounded wellness practices. These engagement activities were part of a broader strategy to build strong relationships with BIPOC communities and inform culturally responsive approaches. Data collection is currently ongoing.

Findings

This project is currently ongoing, with no findings for this moment.

Project Outreach

Future plans included developing and testing the CHIA Project’s VR training tools to prepare them for wider use, with the goal of increasing the project’s impact and reaching broader audiences both locally and globally. Building on the outcomes of the initial phase, which led to the launch of phase two, the team also plans to extend the project into additional areas of the healthcare sector in future phases.

Resources Created

  • 2 abstracts:

    • Abstract introducing the Rose-Arries-Davies (RAD) Synthesis was accepted to the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) 2024 national conference.

    • Abstract submitted in 2025 to IMIA’s global medical informatics conference in Taiwan and to the International Congress of Nursing’s (ICN) conference in Finland to raise awareness and the profile of CHIA on the global stage.

  • 2 manuscripts submitted/inprogres:

    • Manuscript submitted, Quality Advancement in Nursing Education journal (RAD Synthesis)

    • Manuscripts in progress, concept analyses: Decolonial nursing pedagogy and immersive teaching tool use

  • 3 project paper and poster presentations:

    • CHIA Project paper and poster presentations, 24th Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference, Vancouver, BC (2023) (https://shared-care.ca/2023-conference)

    • CHIA Project paper presentation, National Latinx Psychological Assoc. (division of the American Psychological Association) Conferencia: Walking With Our Ancestres: Honoring Indigenous Wisdom & Decolonizing Our Psychology Toward Our Collective Liberation (2023) (https://www.nlpa.ws/2023-conference)

    • Presentation at the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) Nursing Informatics 2024 conference in England.

  • Submissions in progress:

    • International Medical Informatics Association global medical informatics conference (CHIA & decolonization of nursing informatics) (Taiwan)

    • International Congress of Nursing conference (CHIA & decolonization of nursing informatics) (Finland)

  • Participation, outreach, and relationship-building, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Youth Wellness Summit, Chief Whitecap First Nation (2023) (https://saskpolytech.ca/news/posts/2023/youth-wellness-summit-brings-together-indigenous-youth.aspx)

  • Co-founder, Roots & Wires Interdisciplinary Research Collective and VR Nursing Skills Lab, University of Regina Faculty of Nursing (2022)