Researchers
- Dr Lisa Jackson Pulver, Muru Marri Indigenous Health Unit, University of New South Wales
- Dr Rowena Ivers, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), University of New South Wales
Summary
The aims of this project are to develop and pilot a lifestyle intervention for Indigenous people in primary care, which can be adapted for use in primary care settings anywhere in Australia, including rural and remote areas. This involves the establishment of a steering committee with representatives from Indigenous health organisations, target communities and recognised researchers, to ensure that Indigenous people are adequately consulted and involved in the development and evaluation of the intervention.
The next step is to deliver a pilot of the healthy lifestyle intervention that will not only elicit information about behaviours such as alcohol consumption, diet, and exercise, but also reduce the incidence of substance abuse.
Finally the project aims to develop a research plan for a major study and or research trial of the lifestyle intervention, including an evaluation of its effectiveness at changing behaviours and overall cost effectiveness.
Outcomes
The healthy lifestyle intervention provided a structured framework for health professionals to deliver evidence-based preventive health care. This proved to be particularly important for Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) whose lower educational levels, professional status, and level of clinical skills in comparison to that of other types of health professionals, created barriers to their greater involvement in clinical care.
Increasing AHWs access to, and utilisation of, well-designed and practical preventive health care kits facilitates their greater involvement in prevention, thereby increasing their ability to integrate their clinical skills with evidence-based practice.
References
Clifford, A, Jackson Pulver, L, Richmond, R, Shakeshaft, A & Ivers, R 2009 %d5%d4Disseminating best-evidence health-care to Indigenous health-care settings and programs in Australia: identifying the gaps. OUP Health Promot. Int. 2009; 24: 404-415
