Piloting an Indigenous cultural safety online program: Baseline and endline survey results from health and social work faculties in Toronto, Canada

Indigenous cultural safety training is imperative for addressing health inequities and improving health and well-being for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) Peoples across Canada. We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study evaluating participants' experiences, perspectives, and knowledge retained from the New Respect Cultural Safety (NRCS) online training program. Participants were recruited from health (i.e., medicine, public health, and nursing) and social work faculties at the [academic institution redacted]. Baseline and endline surveys assessed participants' knowledge of FNIM histories, policies, and legislation as well as pre- and post-engagement experiences with the NRCS online program. Frequency distribution was employed as a descriptive statistical method; significances in baseline-to-endline shifts were examined using Fisher's exact test. Inductive thematic analysis guided qualitative analysis. Most baseline ( n = 124) and endline ( n = 46) participants were between 25 and 44 years old, students or faculty, and self-identified as White American/White European. We found significant baseline-to-endline increases in self-perceived knowledge of FNIM, yet a significant decrease in familiarity with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Partial engagement imparted meaningful insights, yet complete engagement is needed to enhance familiarity with FNIM policies and legislation. Reflecting on FNIM policies and legislation through baseline and endline surveys may have led participants to re-think the extent of their understanding. Findings suggest feasibility in online administration and offer recommendations for improving engagement. As a multidimensional and ongoing exchange, NRCS enhances contextual awareness of power, privilege, and positionality while also prompting behavioural shifts in solidarity with FNIM Peoples across Canada.