Deadly Choices™ community health events: a health promotion initiative for urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Abstract

The present study was an evaluation of the effectiveness of Deadly Choices™ community events for improving participants' short-term knowledge of chronic disease and risk factors, and increasing community engagement with local health services. Surveys were completed directly before and after participating in health education activities (pre and post surveys, respectively) assessing knowledge of chronic diseases and risk factors at three Deadly Choices community events and four National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) events in south-east Queensland where Deadly Choices health education activities took place. An audit trail was conducted at two Deadly Choices community events in Brisbane to identify the proportion of participants who undertook a health screen at the event who then followed up for a Medicare-funded health check (MBS item 715) or other appointment at an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinic in the local area within 2 months. Results were compared with a sample of participants who attended one Deadly Choices community event but did not complete a health screen. There were 472 community members who completed a pre and post survey. All knowledge scores significantly improved between baseline and follow up. Although based on a small sample, the audit trail results suggest individuals who participated in a health screen at the community day were approximately twice as likely to go back to a clinic to receive a full health check or have an alternative appointment compared with attendees who did not participate in a screen. Community events that include opportunities for health education and health screening are an effective strategy to improve chronic disease health literacy skills and appear to have the potential to increase community engagement with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services.

Effective strategies to reduce commercial tobacco use in Indigenous communities globally: A systematic review

“…Three studies were of strong quality, three studies were moderate and one was descriptive. Qualitative results in these studies demonstrate a greater sense of community interest to prioritize tobacco [ 22 , 23 ] a feeling of greater self-determination to shape the health and well-being of both individuals and the community [ 24 , 25 ] and development of local Indigenous capacity [ 22 , 23 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Three studies had strong quality and 10 studies had moderate. Five different types of knowledge were tested, including: the risks of and health conditions caused by smoking [ 22 , 24 , 25 , 29 – 33 ] the traditional methods of using sacred tobacco [ 34 , 35 ]; the causes of commercial tobacco misuse [ 36 ]; smoking cessation models [ 37 ]; and general knowledge of commercial tobacco [ 38 ]. Eight of the interventions revealed a positive impact on change in knowledge, while the effect of the other 3 interventions [ 29 , 34 , 38 ] is unknown due to insignificant results.…”

“…Three interventions produced a statistically significant increase in the knowledge of risks and health effects caused by smoking: Deadly Choices, the Tobacco Action Program and the FACETS curriculum. All of these interventions involved multiple components including school or community based education programs [ 22 , 24 , 25 , 31 , 35 ] sponsorship of cultural events [ 22 , 24 , 25 , 31 ] and the use of ceremonial practices [ 22 , 31 , 35 ]. Moreover, all three interventions were implemented by Indigenous project officers [ 22 , 31 , 35 ] or Indigenous healthy lifestyle workers [ 24 , 25 ].…”

“…For example, the Deadly Choices Program in South-East Queensland, Australia reported significant knowledge gains among 472 attendees. There was a 0.9 increase in mean knowledge scores among participants (from a pre-score of 7.9/12 to a post score of 8.8/12) after participation in health education activities [ 25 ]. Likewise, the Tobacco Action Project observed a 5 % (from 85 to 90 %) and 7 % (82 to 89 %) increase in the number of people ( n = 351) who believed that tobacco use was linked to lung cancer and heart disease respectively [ 22 , 31 ].…”

Relating well to people: a mixed-methods evaluation of preventive care implementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in mainstream, urban general practice

“…43 This has been short-term knowledge of chronic disease and risk factors and increasing community engagement with local health services associated with these community events. 54 The style of practice described is rarely achieved in mainstream primary care services, in the current funding environment.…”