Chronic condition self-management support for Aboriginal people: Adapting tools and training

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Health
• Chronic Disease Management
• Health Workforce Development

Background:

• Chronic conditions pose significant health challenges for Australian Aboriginal populations.
• Existing self-management programs often lack cultural appropriateness and health worker training.
• There is a need for context-specific interventions to improve chronic condition self-management support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the Australian health workforce's capacity to support Aboriginal people in self-managing chronic conditions.
• To adapt the Flinders Program for Australian Aboriginal contexts and develop relevant training.
• To improve health outcomes for Aboriginal individuals living with chronic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Adapted the Flinders Program's assessment and care planning tools into an illustrated booklet, 'My Health Story'.
• Consulted with Australian Aboriginal Elders and experts to ensure cultural relevance.
• Developed and delivered training for health professionals focusing on cultural safety and engagement.

Main Results:

• Trained 825 health professionals across Australia.
• Accredited 61 trainers, ensuring program sustainability.
• Significantly increased health workforce capacity and skills in supporting Aboriginal chronic condition self-management.

Conclusions:

• The adapted 'My Health Story' program effectively increased health workforce capacity for supporting Aboriginal chronic condition self-management.
• The tools and training were well-received by healthcare organizations, professionals, and clients.
• The adapted tools demonstrate potential for international application in diverse cultural and health literacy contexts.