Deadly Choices™ community health events: a health promotion initiative for urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Malseed ◽  
Alison Nelson ◽  
Robert Ware ◽  
Ian Lacey ◽  
Keiron Lander

The present study was an evaluation of the effectiveness of Deadly Choices™ community events for improving participants’ short-term knowledge of chronic disease and risk factors, and increasing community engagement with local health services. Surveys were completed directly before and after participating in health education activities (pre and post surveys, respectively) assessing knowledge of chronic diseases and risk factors at three Deadly Choices community events and four National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) events in south-east Queensland where Deadly Choices health education activities took place. An audit trail was conducted at two Deadly Choices community events in Brisbane to identify the proportion of participants who undertook a health screen at the event who then followed up for a Medicare-funded health check (MBS item 715) or other appointment at an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinic in the local area within 2 months. Results were compared with a sample of participants who attended one Deadly Choices community event but did not complete a health screen. There were 472 community members who completed a pre and post survey. All knowledge scores significantly improved between baseline and follow up. Although based on a small sample, the audit trail results suggest individuals who participated in a health screen at the community day were approximately twice as likely to go back to a clinic to receive a full health check or have an alternative appointment compared with attendees who did not participate in a screen. Community events that include opportunities for health education and health screening are an effective strategy to improve chronic disease health literacy skills and appear to have the potential to increase community engagement with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services.

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 464
Author(s):  
Jie Hu ◽  
Tabinda Basit ◽  
Alison Nelson ◽  
Emma Crawford ◽  
Lyle Turner

Work It Out is a holistic chronic disease self-management program for urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland, which is part of an integrated and comprehensive system of care for chronic disease management. This study examines differences in primary healthcare services use between Work It Out participants and non-participants. This retrospective observational study of services use, analysed data extracted from the clinical medical records system and Work It Out program assessments. General practitioner and allied health services use were compared among the participants and non-participants using logistic regression models and zero-truncated Poisson and negative binomial regression models. Compared with non-participants, Work It Out participants were more likely to use GP management plans, GP team care arrangements, GP mental health consultation and subsequent allied health services. Among those who used the services more than once, Work It Out participants had higher service use rates than non-participants for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments, GP management plans, team care arrangements and podiatry, physiotherapy and dietetic services. Engagement in Work It Out can facilitate the use of primary healthcare services, which are important for chronic disease management for urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Butten ◽  
NW Johnson ◽  
KK Hall ◽  
J Anderson ◽  
M Toombs ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julieann Coombes ◽  
Syazlin Sazali ◽  
Tamara Mackean ◽  
Margaret Banks ◽  
Nilva Egana ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The primary objective of this systematic review was to identify contributing causes to leave events from health services for Australian patients. The second objective was to identify evidence based preventative measures for effectively reducing leave events, which could be implemented. Study design Articles published in Australia were included if they reported on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians who leave health services prior to being seen or discharged by a medical professional. Two researchers screened each abstract and independently reviewed full text articles. Study quality was assessed, and data were extracted with standardised tools.Data sources MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched for relevant publications from May 27th to June 30th, 2020. The search returned 30 relevant records. Nine additional records were identified by manual search in Google Scholar. References of included articles were searched. From these articles, 11 met the inclusion criteria. Of these 5 were from New South Wales, 2 from Western Australia, 1 each from Queensland and Northern Territory, two were conducted nationally. Data synthesis Four studies used a retrospective cohort method, one included patient interviews,(1) Four cohort studies and two systematic reviews were included. Two government reports and one health policy document were included in this review. All studies were from Australia using mixed methods.Conclusions This review identified causes for, and evidence based preventative measures that have been or could be implemented to reduce Leave Events and describes additional terms and definitions used for Leave Events.


Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Harrod ◽  
Sophia Couzos ◽  
James Ward ◽  
Mark Saunders ◽  
Basil Donovan ◽  
...  

Background Gonorrhoea occurs at high levels in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote communities, but there are limited data on urban and regional settings. An analysis was undertaken of gonorrhoea testing and positivity at four non-remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services participating in a collaborative research network. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of clinical encounter data derived from electronic medical records at participating services. Data were extracted using the GRHANITE program for all patients aged 15–54 years from 2009 to 2013. Demographic characteristics and testing and positivity for gonorrhoea were calculated for each year. Results: A total of 2971 patients (2571 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) were tested for gonorrhoea during the study period. Among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients, 40 (1.6%) tested positive. Gonorrhoea positivity was associated with clinic location (higher in the regional clinic) and having had a positive chlamydia test. By year, the proportion of patients aged 15–29 years tested for gonorrhoea increased in both men (7.4% in 2009 to 15.9% in 2013) and women (14.8% in 2009 to 25.3% in 2013). Concurrent testing for chlamydia was performed on 86.3% of testing occasions, increasing from 75% in 2009 to 92% in 2013. Factors related to concurrent testing were sex and year of test. Conclusions: The prevalence of gonorrhoea among young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in non-remote settings suggests that the current approach of duplex testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea simultaneously is justified, particularly for women.


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