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Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
Australian Journal of Primary Health

Australian Journal of Primary Health

Volume 30 Number 3 2024

In older persons, the risk of developing frailty increases with age, and people with frailty experience higher morbidity, mortality and lower quality of life. However, frailty risk is not currently formally assessed and tracked in general practice in Australia. This pilot study demonstrates that frailty in Australians aged ≥75 years is identified frequently, and its identification and the subsequent management recommendations to reverse or reduce frailty risk, can be readily incorporated into the general practice workflow.

PY23163Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members’ experiences of care in an urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service transforming to a Patient Centred Medical Home

Anton Clifford-Motopi, Renee Brown (Nununccal), Antoinette White (Palawa Iningai), Patrice Harald (Gangulu), Danielle Butler, Saira Mathew, Julie Mackenzie, Martie Eaton and Richard Mills

The Patient Centred Medical Home (PCMH) aims to deliver primary healthcare based on what matters most to patients and their families.This study addressed the lack of published research i examining implementation of this model of care in Aborignal Community Controlled Health Services. The PCMH was acceptable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and strengthened their relationships with health care providers. This provides an acceptable model of primary health care for other Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, with flexbility for tailoring to local context. .

Deprescribing of antidepressants is not routinely occurring in clinical practice, leading patients to seek help via other methods. Little is known about what role social media support groups play in a patient’s journey when ceasing antidepressant medication. This is one of the first studies to gain insight from antidepressant users who are also members of two Facebook groups providing support for antidepressant deprescribing. Lack of clinical knowledge by clinicians is a big driver for patients help seeking from their peers.

PY23124Supporting best practice in the management of chronic diseases in primary health care settings: a scoping review of training programs for Indigenous Health Workers and Practitioners

Odette Pearson, Shwikar Othman, Kate Colmer, Sana Ishaque, Gloria Mejia, Sarah Crossing, David Jesudason, Gary Wittert, Paul Zimmet, Sophia Zoungas, Natalie Wischer, Kim Morey, Jane Giles, Sara Jones, Alex Brown and Saravana Kumar

Limited studies have sought to implement and evaluate novel workforce approaches to reducing differential diabetes-related outcomes in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples populations. This review described the characteristics of the chronic disease management training programs and their effectiveness for Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners. Most included studies reported satisfaction with the training content, whereas some reported improved knowledge, confidence, and clinical and non-clinical skills of the participants. However, few studies reported knowledge transfer into clinical practice and client-related outcomes.

Patients with dental pain often seek treatment from general practitioners (GPs), even though the problem often requires dental treatment rather than antibiotics and/or pain relief medications. This study looked at GPs’ management of patients with dental problems, and identified barriers as to why patients would see a GP instead of a dentist. Understanding these reasons will help develop interventions to better educate patients in oral health, and provide better access to dental care to patients with oral conditions.

PY23172Co-designing a Health Journey Mapping resource for culturally safe health care with and for First Nations people

Alyssa Cormick, Amy Graham, Tahlee Stevenson, Kelli Owen, Kim O’Donnell and Janet Kelly

We have co-designed Health Journey Mapping tools and resources with First Nations patients and families and with First Nations and non-First Nations healthcare professionals to address current gaps in care. These pragmatic, strengths-based tools and resources enhance and incorporate cultural safety, continuous quality and improvement and comprehensive care and can be used collaboratively by healthcare consumers and professionals to assess and improve the quality, access, experiences and outcomes of care.

Committee on Publication Ethics

Call for Papers

We are seeking contributions for Special Issues. More information

Call for Reviewers

We are seeking reviewers to join the team. Australian Journal of Primary Health Reviewers

Best Oral Paper Prize AAAPC 2024

Joanne Wong has been awarded the Best Oral Paper Prize for 2024.

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