This research shows that doctors and nutritionists have been approaching kidney disease care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in a way that focuses too much on what’s wrong instead of what’s strong. Researchers propose a new approach that recognizes and builds on the strengths, knowledge, and cultural practices of these communities. Using a real-world example from a community in Australia, they show how this strengths-based method can lead to better health outcomes and give people more control over their own healthcare decisions. This shift in thinking could change how nutrition care is provided to Indigenous Australians dealing with chronic kidney disease.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How healthcare providers can better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians with kidney disease by focusing on their strengths and cultural knowledge instead of just their problems
  • Who participated: This was a case study (detailed example) from a community in Yarrabah, Australia, showing how the new approach works in real life rather than testing it with a large group of people
  • Key finding: A strengths-based approach that recognizes Indigenous knowledge and community strengths is more effective and culturally respectful than traditional methods that only focus on what’s wrong
  • What it means for you: If you’re Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and managing kidney disease, this suggests healthcare providers should ask about your strengths, cultural practices, and knowledge rather than only telling you what you can’t do. This may lead to better health outcomes and more control over your care.

The Research Details

This research presents a case study—a detailed, real-world example—rather than a traditional experiment. The researchers used a framework called Prehn’s strengths-based approach to show how nutrition care for kidney disease can be redesigned. They looked at three levels: individual strengths (what one person can do), community strengths (what the community offers), and system strengths (how organizations can support people). The case study comes from Yarrabah, a real community in Australia, showing how this approach actually works in practice.

Instead of testing the approach with many people, the researchers used this one detailed example to teach other healthcare providers how to think differently about caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. They focused on showing the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of this new approach rather than measuring whether it works better with numbers.

This research matters because it challenges the way healthcare has traditionally been delivered to Indigenous Australians. For too long, healthcare providers have focused only on problems and deficits, which can make people feel blamed or hopeless. By showing a different way—one that respects Indigenous knowledge and builds on community strengths—this research offers a path toward more respectful, effective, and culturally safe care. This approach also supports the right of Indigenous peoples to make decisions about their own health.

This is a case study, which means it provides an in-depth look at one real situation rather than testing many people. This type of research is excellent for showing how something works in practice and teaching others new approaches, but it doesn’t prove the method works better than traditional approaches. The strength of this work is that it comes from listening to and working with the actual community. Readers should understand this as a promising new framework that needs further testing with larger groups to confirm it leads to better health outcomes.

What the Results Show

The researchers demonstrated that Prehn’s strengths-based framework can be successfully applied to kidney disease nutrition care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. At the individual level, this means recognizing each person’s unique knowledge, skills, and cultural practices related to food and health. At the community level, it means acknowledging the strengths of family networks, cultural traditions, and community knowledge systems. At the system level, it means healthcare organizations can change how they train staff and design programs to be more culturally respectful and strength-focused.

The case study showed that when healthcare providers shift from a deficit-focused approach (only talking about restrictions and problems) to a strengths-based approach (recognizing what people can do and what they know), it creates a more respectful relationship. This approach respects what’s called ‘health sovereignty’—the right of Indigenous peoples to make decisions about their own health based on their own knowledge and values.

The framework helps nutrition practitioners recognize and name the problem with deficit-based thinking, then reframe how they talk about and approach kidney disease care. Instead of saying ‘you can’t eat this,’ the approach asks ‘what foods are important to you and how can we work with that?’ This shift in conversation and thinking appears to be more effective and culturally appropriate.

The research highlights that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health knowledge systems have been largely ignored or made invisible in mainstream healthcare. By bringing these knowledge systems into the conversation, healthcare becomes more complete and respectful. The framework also shows that strengths exist at every level—in individuals, families, communities, and organizations—and recognizing these strengths can improve how people engage with healthcare and manage their kidney disease.

Traditional approaches to kidney disease care have focused mainly on what patients should avoid and what’s wrong with their health. This research builds on growing recognition in healthcare that strength-based approaches lead to better outcomes and more patient engagement. It specifically applies this idea to Indigenous healthcare, which is important because Indigenous Australians have faced a long history of healthcare that didn’t respect their knowledge or culture. This work aligns with international movements toward culturally safe healthcare and Indigenous health sovereignty.

This research presents one detailed case study rather than testing the approach with many people, so we can’t yet say with certainty that it leads to better health outcomes compared to traditional approaches. The case study is from one specific community (Yarrabah), so the approach may need adjustment for other communities. The research doesn’t include measurements of whether people’s kidney disease actually improved or whether they felt more satisfied with their care. More research with larger groups and actual health outcome measurements would strengthen these findings.

The Bottom Line

Healthcare providers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who have kidney disease should consider adopting a strengths-based approach. This means: (1) Learning about and respecting Indigenous knowledge about food and health, (2) Asking patients about their strengths and what matters to them, (3) Building care plans around what people can do rather than only restrictions, and (4) Involving communities in designing nutrition programs. Confidence level: Moderate—this is a promising approach supported by the case study and broader healthcare research, but more testing is needed.

Healthcare providers, nutritionists, and organizations serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians should pay attention to this research. Patients and communities dealing with kidney disease should know that this approach exists and can ask their healthcare providers about using it. Policymakers developing Indigenous health programs should consider these principles. This research is less relevant for healthcare providers working with non-Indigenous populations, though the general principles of strength-based care apply broadly.

Changes in how healthcare is delivered typically take time. If healthcare providers adopt this approach, people may notice differences in how they’re treated and spoken to fairly quickly. However, improvements in actual health outcomes and disease management may take several months to become apparent as people adjust to the new approach and build trust with providers using this method.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your food choices and how they connect to your cultural practices and values, not just whether they fit kidney disease restrictions. For example, note which traditional or culturally important foods you eat, how often, and how you felt about the meal—both physically and emotionally.
  • Instead of focusing on foods to avoid, use the app to identify and celebrate foods that are both culturally meaningful to you and work with your kidney health. Set goals around preparing meals in ways that honor your culture while managing your kidney disease.
  • Monitor your overall wellbeing and sense of control over your health, not just clinical numbers. Track how supported you feel by your healthcare team, whether your cultural knowledge is being respected, and how confident you feel making food choices. These measures of ‘health sovereignty’ are as important as traditional health measurements.

This research presents a case study and theoretical framework rather than clinical trial results. It does not provide specific medical advice for managing kidney disease. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians with chronic kidney disease should continue working with their healthcare team and follow medical advice from qualified healthcare providers. This research suggests a better way for healthcare providers to deliver care, but individual health decisions should always be made in consultation with qualified medical professionals who understand your specific situation. If you have kidney disease, speak with your doctor or kidney specialist before making changes to your diet or treatment plan.