scholarly journals Issues with prescribed medications in Aboriginal communities: Aboriginal Health Workers' perspectives

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Hamrosi ◽  
Susan Taylor ◽  
Parisa Aslani
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Aboriginal Communities

scholarly journals Chronic disease self-management in Aboriginal Communities: Towards a sustainable program of care in rural communities

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Ah Kit ◽  
C Prideau x ◽  
PW Harve y ◽  
J Collin s ◽  
M Battersb y ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Pilot Program ◽  
Aboriginal Communities ◽  
One Year

The Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSM) strategy for Aboriginal patients on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, was designed to develop and trial new program tools and processes for goal setting, behaviour change and self-management for Aboriginal people with diabetes. The project was established as a one-year demonstration project to test and trial a range of CDSM processes and procedures within Aboriginal communities and not as a formal research project. Over a one-year period, 60 Aboriginal people with type-2 diabetes in two remote regional centres participated in the pilot program. This represents around 25% of the known Aboriginal diabetic population in these sites. The project included training for four Aboriginal Health Workers in goal setting and self-management strategies in preparation for them to run the program. Patients completed a Diabetes Assessment Tool, a Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF12), the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WASAS) at 0, 6 and 12 months. The evaluation tools were assessed and revised by consumers and health professionals during the trial to determine the most functional and acceptable processes for Aboriginal patients. Some limited biomedical data were also recorded although this was not the principal purpose of the project. Initial results from the COAG coordinated care trial in Eyre suggest that goal setting and monitoring processes, when modified to be culturally inclusive of Aboriginal people, can be effective strategies for improving self-management skills and health-related behaviours of patients with chronic illness. The CDSM pilot study in Aboriginal communities has led to further refinement of the tools and processes used in chronic illness self-management programs for Aboriginal people and to greater acceptance of these processes in the communities involved. Participation in a diabetes self-management program run by Aboriginal Health Workers assists patients to identify and understand their health problems and develop condition management goals and patient-centred solutions that can lead to improved health and wellbeing for participants. While the development of self-management tools and strategies led to some early indications of improvements in patient participation and resultant health outcomes, the pilot program and the refinement of new assessment tools used to assist this process has been the significant outcome of the project. The CDSM process described here is a valuable strategy for educating and supporting people with chronic conditions and in gaining their participation in programs designed to improve the way they manage their illness. Such work, and the subsequent health outcome research planned for rural regions, will contribute to the development of more comprehensive CDSM programs for Aboriginal communities generally.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experiences and Perspectives of Australian Aboriginal Women on Oral Health during Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8061
Author(s):  
Ariana Kong ◽  
Michelle Dickson ◽  
Lucie Ramjan ◽  
Mariana S. Sousa ◽  
Joanne Goulding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Aboriginal Women ◽  
Torres Strait

The aim of this study was to explore whether oral health was an important consideration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women during pregnancy, whether oral health could be promoted by Aboriginal health staff, and strategies that would be appropriate to use in a new model of care. A qualitative descriptive methodology underpinned the study. All participants in this study identified as Aboriginal, with no Torres Strait Islander participants, and were from New South Wales, Australia. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. From the data, two themes were constructed. The first theme identified that oral health was not always the first priority for participants as poor accessibility alongside other competing commitments were challenges to accessing oral health services. The second theme highlighted how relationships with personal networks and healthcare providers were essential and could be used to support maternal oral health during pregnancy. Effective strategies to promote oral health during pregnancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women should involve key stakeholders and health care providers, like Aboriginal Health Workers, to facilitate culturally safe support and tailored oral health advice.

scholarly journals SToP (See, Treat, Prevent) skin sores and scabies trial: study protocol for a cluster randomised, stepped-wedge trial for skin disease control in remote Western Australia

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e030635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne J Mullane ◽  
Timothy C Barnett ◽  
Jeffrey W Cannon ◽  
Jonathan R Carapetis ◽  
Ray Christophers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Skin Disease ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Stepped Wedge ◽  
Aboriginal Communities ◽  
Australian Aboriginal ◽  
Cluster Randomised

IntroductionSkin is important in Australian Aboriginal culture informing kinship and identity. In many remote Aboriginal communities, scabies and impetigo are very common. Untreated skin infections are painful, itchy and frequently go untreated due to under-recognition and lack of awareness of their potential serious complications. We hypothesise that the skin infection burden in remote Aboriginal communities can be reduced by implementing streamlined training and treatment pathways integrated with environmental health and health promotion activities, tested in the See, Treat, Prevent (SToP skin sores and scabies) trial.Methods and analysisSToP will evaluate a skin control programme using a stepped-wedge, cluster randomised trial design with three intervention components (the ‘SToP activities’): (1) seeing skin infections (development of training resources implemented within a community dermatology model); (2) treating skin infections (employing the latest evidence for impetigo, and scabies treatment); and (3) preventing skin infections (embedded, culturally informed health promotion and environmental health activities). Four community clusters in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia will participate. Following baseline data collection, two clusters will be randomly allocated to the SToP activities. At 12 months, the remaining two clusters will transition to the SToP activities. The primary outcome is the diagnosis of impetigo in children (5–9 years) at school-based surveillance. Secondary outcome measures include scabies diagnosis, other child health indicators, resistance to cotrimoxazole in circulating pathogenic bacteria, determining the economic burden of skin disease and evaluating the cost effectiveness of SToP activities.Ethics and disseminationThis study protocol was approved by the health ethics review committees at the Child and Adolescent Health Service (Approval number RGS0000000584), the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee (Reference number: 819) and the University of Western Australia (Reference RA/4/20/4123). Study findings will be shared with community members, academic and medical communities via publications and presentations, and in reports to funders. Authorship for all publications based on this study will be determined in line with the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals published by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Sharing results with organisations and communities who contributed to the study is paramount. The results of the SToP trial will be shared with participants in a suitable format, such as a single summary page provided to participants or presentations to communities, the Kimberly Aboriginal Health Planning Forum Research Subcommittee and other stakeholders as appropriate and as requested. Communication and dissemination will require ongoing consultation with Aboriginal communities to determine appropriate formats.Trial registration numberACTRN12618000520235.

scholarly journals “Got to build that trust”: the perspectives and experiences of Aboriginal health staff on maternal oral health

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariana C. Kong ◽  
Mariana S. Sousa ◽  
Lucie Ramjan ◽  
Michelle Dickson ◽  
Joanne Goulding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Aboriginal Women ◽  
Family Partnership

Abstract Background In Australia, models of care have been developed to train antenatal care providers to promote oral health among pregnant women. However, these models are underpinned by Western values of maternity care that do not consider the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of Aboriginal health staff towards oral health care during pregnancy. It is part of a larger program of research to develop a new, culturally safe model of oral health care for Aboriginal women during pregnancy. Methods A descriptive qualitative methodology informed the study. Focus groups were convened to yarn with Aboriginal Health Workers, Family Partnership Workers and Aboriginal management staff at two antenatal health services in Sydney, Australia. Results A total of 14 people participated in the focus groups. There were four themes that were constructed. These focused on Aboriginal Health Workers and Family Partnership Workers identifying their role in promoting maternal oral health, where adequate training is provided and where trust has been developed with clients. Yet, because the Aboriginal health staff work in a system fundamentally driven by the legacy of colonisation, it has significantly contributed to the systemic barriers Aboriginal pregnant women continue to face in accessing health services, including dental care. The participants recommended that a priority dental referral pathway, that supported continuity of care, could provide increased accessibility to dental care. Conclusions The Aboriginal health staff identified the potential role of Aboriginal Health Workers and Family Partnership Workers promoting oral health among Aboriginal pregnant women. To develop an effective oral health model of care among Aboriginal women during pregnancy, there is the need for training of Aboriginal Health Workers and Family Partnership Workers in oral health. Including Aboriginal staff at every stage of a dental referral pathway could reduce the fear of accessing mainstream health institutions and also promote continuity of care. Although broader oral health policies still need to be changed, this model could mitigate some of the barriers between Aboriginal women and both dental care providers and healthcare systems.

Psychiatric Assessment in Remote Aboriginal Communities

2001 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Sheldon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Remote Area ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Psychiatric Assessment ◽  
Senior Registrar ◽  
Aboriginal Communities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Kinship Ties

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the psychiatric assessment of Aboriginal patients from remote Aboriginal communities in Central Australia. Method: The method consisted of a summary of the experiences gained during a dissertation year placement as senior registrar with the Northern Territory Remote Area Mental Health Team. Results: Remote area Aboriginal psychiatry entails learning a whole new set of skills in terms of history taking and the mental state examination, a knowledge of the importance of extended kinship ties and cultural issues, the use of Aboriginal mental health workers as partners in assessing and managing patients via their families and accepting referrals from a wide range of sources. Conclusions: Working on a service providing psychiatric care to remote area Aboriginal communities can be a deeply rewarding personal and professional experience.

Keepin Ya Mob Healthy: Aboriginal Community Participation and Aboriginal Health Worker Training in Victoria

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Adams ◽  
Merilyn Spratling
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Health Worker ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Community Consultation ◽  
Worker Training ◽  
Health Worker Training ◽  
Aboriginal Health Worker

This article outlines the development of accredited Aboriginal Health Worker training in Victoria. The processes of community consultation are presented as the primary reason for the successful implementation of the training program in its first year of delivery. The most important community consultation processes involved the active input of Elders and Aboriginal Health Workers. The training was seen as more credible by other Koorie people because of the input of these groups. The supportive role played by both the State and Commonwealth governments as well as industry groups are also explored. The successful implementation of the Aboriginal Health Worker training program demonstrates that Aboriginal people know what is best for them and can effectively initiate, organise and deliver their own culturally appropriate training programs.

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