Reclaiming Our Spirits: Development and Pilot Testing of a Health Promotion Intervention for Indigenous Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract
Indigenous women are subjected to high rates of multiple forms of violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV), in the context of ongoing colonization and neo‐colonization. Health promotion interventions for women who experience violence have not been tailored specifically for Indigenous women. Reclaiming Our Spirits (ROS) is a health promotion intervention designed for Indigenous women living in an urban context in Canada. In this paper, we describe the development of the intervention, results of a pilot study, and the revised subsequent intervention. Building on a theory‐based health promotion intervention (iHEAL) showing promising results in feasibility studies, ROS was developed using a series of related approaches including (a) guidance from Indigenous women with research expertise specific to IPV and Indigenous women's experiences; (b) articulation of an Indigenous lens, including using Cree (one of the largest Indigenous language groups in North America) concepts to identify key aspects; and (c) interviews with Elders (n = 10) living in the study setting. Offered over 6–8 months, ROS consists of a Circle, led by an Indigenous Elder, and 1:1 visits with a Registered Nurse, focused on six areas for health promotion derived from previous research. Pilot testing with Indigenous women (n = 21) produced signs of improvement in most measures of health from pre‐ to post‐intervention. Women found the pilot intervention acceptable and helpful bu...

Source: Research in Nursing and Health - April 1, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Colleen Varcoe, Annette J. Browne, Marilyn Ford ‐Gilboe, Madeleine Dion Stout, Holly McKenzie, Roberta Price, Victoria Bungay, Victoria Smye, Jane Inyallie, Linda Day, Koushambhi Khan, Angela Heino, Marilyn Merritt‐Gray Tags: Research Article Source Type: research