Indigenous health 8
Track 11
| Saturday, October 28, 2023 |
| 11:35 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Meeting Room C4.3 |
Overview
Session will be between 1135 - 1230 hours
Speaker
Dr Rosemary Wyber
Research Fellow
Australian National University, Telethon Kids Institute
Getting cardiovascular risk assessment right with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
11:35 AM - 12:30 PMSummary
The NACCHO-RACGP National guide to preventive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (National Guide) is a flagship resource supporting best practice health promoting and disease preventing activities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in primary healthcare settings. Developing the cardiovascular disease (CVD) chapter for the 4th edition of the National Guide has provided an opportunity to review a range of cardiovascular clinical guidelines in Australia and consider how they address the cultural, clinical and contextual needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In particular, exploring CVD risk assessment in the National Guide revealed a range of important considerations for clinicians: how is ‘family history’ defined for the purposes of CVD risk assessment? When should Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ethnicity be considered as a reclassification factor which increases calculated CVD risk? How can protective factors for CVD health be identified and celebrated? How do people feel or respond when offered CVD risk assessment?
These questions, and choices made in drafting the National Guide, reflect the decisions made by general practitioners and other primary care staff daily. Addressing these issues is critical for reducing the disproportionate burden of premature CVD for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the trauma of early CVD deaths. This session will provide space for primary care staff to reflect on their experiences of CVD risk reducing care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Indigenous communities. Facilitated discussion, grounded in cultural safety, will provide an opportunity to highlight research and resources on biomedical CVD risk factors and cultural considerations of care. Participants will gain insight into the process of guideline adaptation for different population groups, explore clinical best practice, resources and reflective opportunities to advance their own practice.
These questions, and choices made in drafting the National Guide, reflect the decisions made by general practitioners and other primary care staff daily. Addressing these issues is critical for reducing the disproportionate burden of premature CVD for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the trauma of early CVD deaths. This session will provide space for primary care staff to reflect on their experiences of CVD risk reducing care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Indigenous communities. Facilitated discussion, grounded in cultural safety, will provide an opportunity to highlight research and resources on biomedical CVD risk factors and cultural considerations of care. Participants will gain insight into the process of guideline adaptation for different population groups, explore clinical best practice, resources and reflective opportunities to advance their own practice.
Takeaways
At the conclusion of this forum participants will take away
1. Insight into the cultural and clinical contexts which influence cardiovascular risk assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
2. Opportunities to reflect on their own practice in a moderated discussion
3. Increased awareness of resources and supports for discussion CVD risk assessment with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
1. Insight into the cultural and clinical contexts which influence cardiovascular risk assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
2. Opportunities to reflect on their own practice in a moderated discussion
3. Increased awareness of resources and supports for discussion CVD risk assessment with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Biography
Dr Rosemary Wyber is a general practitioner and researcher focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cardiovascular health. Rosemary completed her medical training in New Zealand, her Master of Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health and general practice training in Aboriginal Community Controlled Clinics in the Northern Territory of Australia. Rosemary research has focused on rheumatic heart disease, in Australia and internationally. She was the lead author of the RHD Endgame Strategy to eliminate RHD in Australia by 2031 and her PhD thesis addresses policy options to address RHD. Dr Wyber a Research Fellow at the Australian National University work chronic disease risk assessment and management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research and a Senior Research Fellow at Telethon Kids Institute.
