National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Abstract

The National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was conceived and started by NACCHO in 2001 and went on to be supported by the RACGP from 2002. The first edition was published in 2005 and has proven to be widely used by health services and health policy makers to inform best practice in preventing disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. This second edition has been significantly updated and improved, with appraisal and endorsement from peak bodies across Australia. The National Guide is a practical resource intended for all health professionals delivering primary healthcare to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Its purpose is to provide GPs and other health professionals with an accessible, user-friendly guide to best practice in preventive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. This second edition of the National Guide comprises: • the National Guide, which contains evidence statements, recommendations, risk calculation tables and an outline of the development of the guide • the evidence base: the collection of evidence underpinning the guide and recommendations (electronic only) (see the Methodology section ‘Searching the evidence base and drafting recommendations’) • a child and adult lifecycle summary chart listing activities recommended at each age group. The National Guide is available on the NACCHO and the RACGP websites at www. naccho.org.au and at www.racgp.org.au/aboriginalhealth/nationalguide. The National Guide is being integrated into clinical software over time to support primary healthcare professionals to implement best practice by providing them with accessible, accurate and up-to-date preventive health information relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For further information contact the RACGP National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health on 03 8699 0499 or email [email protected]. Purpose: The National Guide is intended for all health professionals delivering primary healthcare to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. This includes general practitioners (GPs), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, nurses and those specialists with a role in delivering primary healthcare. The National Guide makes specific recommendations regarding the elements of a preventive health assessment across the lifecycle of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The aim of the National Guide is to provide an up-to-date, evidence-based national resource that can help inform health providers and policy makers on a defined set of activities that are of particular relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These activities may prevent disease, detect early and unrecognised disease, and promote health in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population while allowing for variations based on regional and local circumstances. The health status of Torres Strait Islander people is very similar to that of the Aboriginal population, and the information in the National Guide can be applied to both population groups