Introduction New Australian guidelines for heart health checks released in 2023 present an opportunity to better support shared decision making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This project explored the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members (consumers) and Health Workers/Practitioners, as part of a codesign process to develop culturally appropriate shared decision making support.

Methods In 2022 we conducted online yarning workshops with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers to introduce them to shared decision making resources, including a culturally adapted shared decision making model called Finding Your Way. This was followed by individual yarning sessions with consumers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers/Practitioners.

Interview transcripts were analysed using a yarning process, thematically coded, and mapped to Finding Your Way components.

Results The workshops were used to introduce participants to key concepts through shared stories. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers, sharing stories of healthcare included several themes associated with good experiences. This including rapport, continuity of care, culturally appropriate communication, supporting health literacy and different ways of being involved in decision making. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers/Practitioners explained how they support shared decision making about cardiovascular disease prevention, including screening risk factors, addressing continuity of care, providing culturally safe healthcare, and providing health promotion/education. Opportunities to better support their role in cardiovascular disease risk assessment were identified.

Discussion Including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners in CVD risk assessment may provide a more culturally safe and appropriate environment, to enable shared decision making about heart health checks.

Conclusion The findings were used to codesign a new website to guide health professionals through a culturally appropriate shared decision making process for heart health checks.