The acceptability and utility of Indigenous youth health assessments: a narrative systematic review

Abstract

Background Indigenous youth are navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood while contending with challenges of ongoing colonisation and everyday lived experiences of racism. A comprehensive assessment of Indigenous youth’s health could enable early diagnosis and respond to health concerns. This narrative systematic review synthesises evidence about the acceptability and utility of primary health care-based health assessments for improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth. Methods A systematic search strategy was conducted using 20 electronic databases. Studies were included if they reported on health assessments conducted in primary health care with youth aged 12–24 years who were Indigenous to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Taiwan, and the arctic regions of Scandinavia and Russia. A narrative synthesis was undertaken. Results Of 3061 unique studies identified, seven met the eligibility criteria. Included studies showed that youth health assessments were useful for making new diagnoses, detecting social and emotional wellbeing concerns, and biomedical parameters. Co-created health assessments with Indigenous youth conducted by clinicians familiar to the community were well accepted. Digital health assessments administered using an electronic tablet provide advantages. No health outcomes were reported. Additionally, no health assessments addressed the impacts of colonisation and racism. Conclusion There is insufficient evidence to make firm conclusions about the benefits of health assessments; however, health assessments can be useful for detecting new diagnoses and concerns regarding social determinants of health, and social and emotional wellbeing. Future development of Indigenous youth health assessments needs to involve Indigenous youth’s perspectives and interpretations of health.