Question

Why do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have poor health outcomes? What strategies can pharmacists employ to provide effective support for Indigenous patients?

Answer 1

Ans) The term Aboriginal will be used to describe the local Indigenous population which is the preferred terminology used by the Western Australian (WA) Department of Health.

- Life expectancy amongst Aboriginal Australians is around 10 years less compared to other Australians.

- This disparity is the result of a range of complex causes, including the transgenerational negative effects of colonisation, dispossession and racism, and socioeconomic factors resulting from lower levels of education and employment, and higher rates of incarceration [5–9].

- Aboriginal people can face many challenges when accessing mainstream services.

- These include unwelcoming hospital settings, lack of transport, mistrust of mainstream health care, a sense of alienation, and inflexible treatment options.

- Indigenous Australians are more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to have respiratory diseases, mental health problems, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Notable among these are trachoma (a bacterial infection of the eye) and rheumatic heart disease.

- TheThe S (South Metropolitan Health Service) community engagement process demonstrated that actively engaging the Aboriginal community has been a key element in improving local health services for Aboriginal people.

- The formation of DAHAGs was a critical success factor in the engagement process and resulted in empowering the Aboriginal community to show leadership, drive the process, and communicate Aboriginal people’s concerns about healthcare to service providers.

- Action, rather than just planning, was a key function of the group. Health service providers worked with DAHAG community members to improve the cultural security of their services.

- The feedback loop that was established fostered a sense of accountability, transparency and trust and has resulted in better healthcare for the Aboriginal community.