Aboriginal Health Research Research Articles

Community-based dementia risk management and prevention program for Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA): a randomised controlled trial study protocol

IntroductionAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of Australia. Up to 45% of dementia in these populations is due to potentially modifiable risk factors. The Dementia Prevention...

Does an expanded allied health student training programme in regional New South Wales (Australia) result in a positive social return on investment? A protocol for a single-university education-based economic evaluation

Introduction20 years ago, health professional student placements in rural areas of Australia were identified as an important rural recruitment strategy and funding priority. Since then, there has been a growing...

Generating evidence to inform responsive and effective actions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescent health and well-being: a mix method protocol for evidence integration ‘the Roadmap Project’

BackgroundAustralia does not have a national strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescent health and as a result, policy and programming actions are fragmented and may not be responsive...

Knowledge interface co-design of a diabetes and metabolic syndrome initiative with and for Aboriginal people living on Ngarrindjeri country

ObjectivesThis research program involves two phases to identify enablers and barriers to diabetes care for Aboriginal people on Ngarrindjeri country; and co-design a strength-based metabolic syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) remission program with the Ngarrindjeri community. Study designA study protocol on qualitative research. MethodsThe study will recruit Aboriginal people living on Ngarrindjeri country above 18 years of age with a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome or T2D. Recruitment for phases one and two will occur through the Aboriginal Health Team at the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network. The lived experiences of T2D will be explored with 10–15 Aboriginal participants, through an Aboriginal conversational technique called ‘yarning’ (60–90 min) in phase 1. Elders and senior community representatives (n = 20–30) will participate in four co-design workshops (2–4 h) in phase 2. Qualitative data will be transcribed and thematically analysed (NVivo version 12). The analysis will focus on protective factors for the Cultural Determinants of Health. Ethics approval was obtained from Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Committee in South Australia (04-22-1009), and Flinders University Human Research Ethics Committee (5847). ResultsThis work will be used to pilot the co-designed diabetes remission trial. Outcomes will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences, focusing on following best practice guidelines from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and National Health and Medical Research Council. Research translation will occur through digital posters, manuals, and infographics. ConclusionsThe findings will be summarised to all Aboriginal organisations involved in this study, along with peak bodies, stakeholders, Aboriginal Services, and interested participants.

Effect of implementation strategies on the routine provision of antenatal care addressing smoking in pregnancy: study protocol for a non-randomised stepped-wedge cluster controlled trial

IntroductionGlobally, guideline-recommended antenatal care for smoking cessation is not routinely delivered by antenatal care providers. Implementation strategies have been shown to improve the delivery of clinical practices across a variety...

‘Joining the Dots: Linking Prenatal Drug Exposure to Childhood and Adolescence’ – research protocol of a population cohort study

IntroductionPrenatal drug exposure (PDE) is one of the most important causes of child harm, but comprehensive information about the long-term outcomes of the families is difficult to ascertain. The Joining...

‘DANMM that’s good!’: evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of the Deadly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Mentoring (DANMM) Programme across rural, regional and metropolitan NSW–a collaborative study protocol

IntroductionThis paper will describe the research protocol for the Deadly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Mentoring (DANMM) Project, which will determine the feasibility and acceptability of a...

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

BackgroundIn Australia, medications can be prescribed by medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, and dispensed by pharmacists. Until recently, pharmacists have been limited to prescribing Schedule 2 and 3 medications, and optometrists, podiatrists, and nurse practitioners can prescribe medications under their scope of practice in some areas of Australia. Recently, the New South Wales (NSW) Government initiated a trial where approved pharmacists in NSW and Australian Capital Territory have an expanded scope of practice to prescribe further medications for urinary tract infections, dermatology conditions (mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, herpes zoster (shingles), impetigo, and mild plaque psoriasis), and resupply of contraceptives. This protocol is for a sub-study of the larger research trial and will explore the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities including clinicians, healthcare services, and community members about the expanded scope of pharmacists' practice.Methods and analysisYarning circles (group) and individual yarns (semi-structured interviews) will be conducted with leaders, clinicians working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (general practitioners, nurses, Aboriginal health workers, community pharmacists), Aboriginal Elders, and community members to understand perspectives of the risks, benefits, opportunities, and issues associated with pharmacists prescribing for these specific conditions. Ethics approval was obtained through the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW.ConclusionThe findings of this sub-study will clarify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' unique perspectives, including perception of risks and opportunities.

Gaawaadhi Gadudha: understanding how cultural camps impact health, well-being and resilience among Aboriginal adults in New South Wales, Australia—a collaborative study protocol

IntroductionThe health and well-being of Aboriginal Australians is inextricably linked to culture and Country. Our study challenges deficit approaches to health inequities by seeking to examine how cultural connection, practice...

Enabling dads and improving First Nations adolescent mental health: a pragmatic randomised controlled study

IntroductionThere are few empirically supported social and emotional well-being programmes for First Nations adolescents, and we found none targeting those living in Aboriginal communities in remote areas of Australia. The...

Journeying towards decolonising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander oral health re-search.

Arguably, the deficit narrative of oral health inequities, perpetuated by colonial re-search agendas, media and sociopolitical discourse, contributes to oral disease burden and fatalism among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. There remains a need to evolve the way oral health is understood, in a manner that reflects the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This paper proposes decolonising methodologies as a strategy to ensure oral health re-search creates more equitable oral health outcomes and realities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Anchored by a critical reflection of the failure of dominant oral health inequity re-search practices to address Indigenous oral health, both in Australia and internationally, we propose five explicit pathways for decolonising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander oral health re-search. We argue the need for (1) positionality statements in all re-search endeavours, (2) studies that honour reciprocal relationships through the development of proposals that ask questions and follow models based on Traditional Knowledges, (3) the development of culturally secure and strengths-based data capturing tools, (4) frameworks that address the intersection of multiple axes of oppression in creating inequitable conditions and (5) decolonising knowledge translation techniques. Importantly, we recognize that re-search will never be entirely 'decolonised' due to the colonial foundations upheld by academic institutions and society more broadly; however, as oral health re-searchers, we ascertain that there is an ethical compulsion to drive decolonising re-search pursuits that produce equitable oral health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.

Upholding our rights in research: calling for urgent investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research ethics.

Upholding our rights in research: calling for urgent investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research ethics.

Developing best practice principles for the provision of programs and services to people transitioning from custody to the community: study protocol for a modified Delphi consensus exercise

IntroductionThere is a lack of standard nomenclature and a limited understanding of programmes and services delivered to people in prisons as they transition into the community to support their integration...

Codesigning informative resources for families of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who sustained a burn injury: a protocol for a participatory action research study

IntroductionParents of children hospitalised in a burn unit experience psychological trauma and later post-traumatic stress. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families whose child has been admitted to a burn unit...

From Deficit to Strength-Based Aboriginal Health Research-Moving toward Flourishing.

Aboriginal Australians have a fundamental human right to opportunities that lead to healthy and flourishing lives. While the impact of trauma on Aboriginal Australians is well-documented, a pervasive deficit narrative that focuses on problems and pathology persists in research and policy discourse. This narrative risks further exacerbating Aboriginal disadvantage through a focus on 'fixing what is wrong' with Aboriginal Australians and the internalising of these narratives by Aboriginal Australians. While a growing body of research adopts strength-based models, limited research has sought to explore Aboriginal flourishing. This conceptual paper seeks to contribute to a burgeoning paradigm shift in Aboriginal research, seeking to understand what can be learned from Aboriginal people who flourish, how we best determine this, and in what contexts this can be impactful. Within, we argue the case for a new approach to exploring Aboriginal wellbeing that integrates salutogenic, positive psychology concepts with complex systems theory to understand and promote Aboriginal wellbeing and flourishing. While deeper work may be required to establish the parameters of a strength-based, culturally aligned Aboriginal conceptualisation of positive psychology, we suggest the integration of Aboriginal and Western methodologies offers a unique and potent means of shifting the dial on seemingly intractable problems.

Birang Daruganora: a protocol for a qualitative study to elicit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community views about cultural needs and experiences for a new Australian health facility

IntroductionTo address challenges regarding the delivery of healthcare, governments and health services are focusing on the implementation of models that are flexible, person-centred, cost-effective and integrate hospital services more closely...

A Mixed Methods Study of 15 Years of Aboriginal Health Research in the Kimberley: ‘We’ve Been Researched, We Think, from Head to Toe, Inside and Outside, Upside Down’

Indigenous peoples have long been the subjects of research, with the burden generally outweighing the benefit. This mixed methods study investigates the characteristics and outcomes of Aboriginal health research in the Kimberley region of Western Australia from 2006-2020 to inform future research practices. Quantitative data from projects submitted to the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Planning Forum Research Subcommittee were reviewed, and key characteristics were recorded and descriptively analysed. Fifteen individuals from a range of local organisations who were involved with research during this time participated in qualitative semi-structured interviews, including 11 Aboriginal people. The project team, including Aboriginal investigators, integrated quantitative and qualitative findings. Three major interview themes were questionable 'research world' behaviours; translation of findings and impact of research; and local involvement and control. The experiences of interviewees were congruent with quantitative data for the larger body of projects (N = 230). Most projects (60%) were not initiated within the Kimberley, with positive impact for local communities often not clear. There were, however, examples of Kimberley Aboriginal-led research excellence. A way forward includes research that is developed, driven, and led by the community; alignment with research priorities; local Aboriginal involvement that is resourced and acknowledged; and comprehensive knowledge translation plans embedded in projects.

Co-designing a health promotion program for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls: lessons learnt.

Despite progression in the ethical and methodological conduct of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, disparities still pervade, indicating limitations in knowledge translation. One identified gap is a lack of documented experiences detailing how ethical guidelines may be practically applied. This paper aims to (i) describe the research processes involved in co-designing a physical activity and psychosocial health program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and (ii) highlight learnings of the collaborative research journey. The Criteria for Strengthening Reporting of Health Research involving Indigenous Peoples (CONSIDER) statement was used to document participatory research activities undertaken with an Aboriginal community partner. Building upon the CONSIDER statement, Aboriginal (N = 3), Torres Strait Islander (N = 1) and non-Indigenous (N = 4) research team members engaged in critical reflection to identify lessons learnt. Researchers identified a tension between participatory research principles and the expectations of funding agencies and research institutions. Consequently, timelines must be flexible to foster meaningful community engagement and participatory processes. Additionally, researchers and community stakeholders are encouraged to embrace tensions that may associated with participatory research or the pressures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers face from their community and organization. Furthermore, differences in professional (i.e. occupational) and cultural knowledge systems need to be acknowledged and accounted for within the early stages of a project to ensure informed decision-making. Identified lessons will assist relevant stakeholders in the development of future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health programming, ensuring the most appropriate health solutions are devised with community.

Exploring the Reported Strengths and Limitations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research: A Narrative Review of Intervention Studies

High quality intervention research is needed to inform evidence-based practice and policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We searched for studies published from 2008-2020 in the PubMed database. A narrative review of intervention literature was conducted, where we identified researcher reported strengths and limitations of their research practice. A total of 240 studies met inclusion criteria which were categorised as evaluations, trials, pilot interventions or implementation studies. Reported strengths included community engagement and partnerships; sample qualities; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement in research; culturally appropriate and safe research practice; capacity building efforts; providing resources or reducing costs for services and communities; understanding local culture and context; and appropriate timelines for completion. Reported limitations included difficulties achieving the target sample size; inadequate time; insufficient funding and resources; limited capacity of health workers and services; and inadequate community involvement and communication issues. This review highlights that community consultation and leadership coupled with appropriate time and funding, enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health intervention research to be conducted. These factors can enable effective intervention research, and consequently can help improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Murru Minya–informing the development of practical recommendations to support ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research: a protocol for a national mixed-methods study

IntroductionConducting ethical and high-quality health research is crucial for informing public health policy and service delivery to reduce the high and inequitable burden of disease experienced by Aboriginal and Torres...