Australian Journal of Primary Health
Volume 28
Number 5 2022
Low health literacy is associated with poor outcomes for chronic disease, and assessing health literacy in the clinic may optimise clinicians’ use of tailored communication techniques. This paper summarises the literature regarding health literacy as an independent predictor of poor outcomes in chronic disease, and describes the tools for assessing health literacy and key methods for improving communication with patients with low health literacy.
The incidence of CKD is increasing globally and in Australia, with the condition affecting approximately one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This study investigated the early detection of CKD among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients attending an urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare service and found that some patients did not have the kidney health checks according to national guideline recommendations. Addressing the challenges in early detection of CKD are essential for preventing or delaying its progression.
There is limited evidence regarding the most effective ways to engage medical students in rural and remote health care, particularly in settings with a large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. This project found that immersion trips positively influenced career intentions of medical students towards working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care, rural and remote health and general practice. The findings suggest that investment in such experiences could significantly change workforce engagement in these under-resourced areas of health care.
The COVID-19 pandemic poses an additional threat to mental health for healthcare workers. We identified unique workplace challenges and stressors faced by GPs that were different from hospital medical staff. Significantly more GPs reported burnout, and experienced moderate-to-severe emotional exhaustion than hospital medical staff. Targeted workplace and psychological support is essential to protect wellbeing among the primary care workforce.
The COVID-19 vaccination program is a crucial element of the Australian pandemic management plan and goal to return to ‘normal’ life, and primary care is a vital player in vaccine provision. Integrating new population-wide vaccinations into existing general practice has had a significant, but not well-documented, impact on primary care. Our study describes the experiences of general practice in Australia nearly 5 months into the vaccine rollout.
People with severe mental illness die about 20 years earlier than those in the general population, mostly due to preventable diseases. Data on those who attend general practice in Australia are lacking. This study describes higher rates of socioeconomic disadvantage, risk factors such as smoking and chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus type 2 relative to other patients. The results add further weight to the call for more proactive preventive care for people with severe mental illness to address this health inequity.
Few studies focus on Australian Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and little is known about the needs, priorities and scope of work of PHNs related to the management and secondary prevention of chronic pain. This paper describes the needs and priorities of PHNs; maps current PHN chronic pain initiatives and identifies gaps; and highlights key enablers to implementation. It also highlights solutions identified by PHNs to increase capacity to commission initiatives.
Low back pain is the leading worldwide cause of years lost to disability and the problem is worsening. Our study aimed to develop and test a low-cost, high-value, scalable primary care treatment program for acute low back pain. The ‘My Back My Plan’ program has been developed using an innovative scholarly approach to intervention development, including co-design with consumers and clinicians, and optimises provision of integrated clinical care that is individualised and person-centred.
Low back pain is the largest cause of years lived with a disability in Australia, and there is an urgent need for innovations to address global gaps between evidence and practice. Our study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of My Back My Plan, a primary care program for acute low back pain. My Back My Plan facilitates delivery of person-centred care and was rated as highly acceptable to people with acute onset low back pain, and thereby warrants further evaluation.
Health care professionals often have regular contact with their older patients, and understand their changing health needs. The home care package scheme provides funds to eligible older Australians for social, personal and clinical care services, aiming to help people to age in place. Uncorroborated evidence suggests older Australians rely on health professionals to prompt home care package assessments, choose service providers and manage packages thereafter. Little is known, however, about the confidence of health professionals in the community to provide this guidance.
, Mary Boyde 
