A novel way is needed of remembering to take medicines - seriously
It is less than 50 years since many remote living Aboriginal people were living in a traditional way; obtaining their food largely from hunting and supplementing this with the basics of western diet such as flour for making dampers. In 2008 the Australian health authorities are faced with an epidemic of chronic diseases brought on by too rapid a change to fast food, TV advertising of junk food and alcoholic beverages. During this period tobacco was first portrayed as an appropriate and smart thing to do. Then advertising was banned and the message has turned around.
Australian Aboriginal people have been abruptly confronted with a totally different world to the one in which they were raised. Their children, born in the last 30 years, are growing up in an environment where most of their elders suffer ill-health, with an epidemic of diseases such as diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, renal failure, asthma and heart failure.
These are not diseases understood by the traditional belief systems of the Aboriginal people or their traditional healers. There are no traditional remedies for clearing hardened arteries, or reducing blood cholesterol. By the same token, the concept of lengthening the life span of a person already feeling bad may conflict with beliefs that welcome the chance to pass away and have their spirit return as a better being.
The task of introducing western concepts of ongoing medication a group of people who do not understand why they are feeling sick is made more difficult by virtue of the fact that the people have English as a second language. The younger generations have better English skills but do not have the disease and medication knowledge, the doctors do not have the skills in local languages. The present generations of Aboriginal Health Workers have not been trained to address medication adherence.
The successful use of medicines to manage chronic disease will only occur when the person understands their illness, their body and how it is affected by life style choices that oppose healthy living. So little has been achieved over the past 30 years that people who are growing up in 2008 will only experience a community that is in a constant state of ill health which then becomes perceived as normal. Children will expect to get overweight and diabetic.
Australian Aboriginals with chronic disease will be confronted with the medical jargon of the doctor or the need for exercise by the diabetic educator; and, if there is the opportunity in the mix of allied health professionals, the pharmacist or pharmacy assistant on the notion of taking medicines as directed, regularly, at the time specified and with or without food.
The mix is already confused with language meaning that understanding is poor and adherence minimised to a dangerous level that leads to avoidable complications and hospitalisation.
The consequent temptation to spend the available money on quick fixes is too great for the uneducated person. That means the purchase of fast food for an unbalanced diet and the hazards of alcoholic beverages and other drugs (especially marijuana) to take the stress out of an otherwise boredom riddled day.
Strategies to address medication use in Aboriginal people, especially those from remote areas, must be founded upon their view of the world.
Ends
It is less than 50 years since many remote living Aboriginal people were living in a traditional way; obtaining their food largely from hunting and supplementing this with the basics of western diet such as flour for making dampers. In 2008 the Australian health authorities are faced with an epidemic of chronic diseases brought on by too rapid a change to fast food, TV advertising of junk food and alcoholic beverages. During this period tobacco was first portrayed as an appropriate and smart thing to do. Then advertising was banned and the message has turned around.
Australian Aboriginal people have been abruptly confronted with a totally different world to the one in which they were raised. Their children, born in the last 30 years, are growing up in an environment where most of their elders suffer ill-health, with an epidemic of diseases such as diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, renal failure, asthma and heart failure.
These are not diseases understood by the traditional belief systems of the Aboriginal people or their traditional healers. There are no traditional remedies for clearing hardened arteries, or reducing blood cholesterol. By the same token, the concept of lengthening the life span of a person already feeling bad may conflict with beliefs that welcome the chance to pass away and have their spirit return as a better being.
The task of introducing western concepts of ongoing medication a group of people who do not understand why they are feeling sick is made more difficult by virtue of the fact that the people have English as a second language. The younger generations have better English skills but do not have the disease and medication knowledge, the doctors do not have the skills in local languages. The present generations of Aboriginal Health Workers have not been trained to address medication adherence.
The successful use of medicines to manage chronic disease will only occur when the person understands their illness, their body and how it is affected by life style choices that oppose healthy living. So little has been achieved over the past 30 years that people who are growing up in 2008 will only experience a community that is in a constant state of ill health which then becomes perceived as normal. Children will expect to get overweight and diabetic.
Australian Aboriginals with chronic disease will be confronted with the medical jargon of the doctor or the need for exercise by the diabetic educator; and, if there is the opportunity in the mix of allied health professionals, the pharmacist or pharmacy assistant on the notion of taking medicines as directed, regularly, at the time specified and with or without food.
The mix is already confused with language meaning that understanding is poor and adherence minimised to a dangerous level that leads to avoidable complications and hospitalisation.
The consequent temptation to spend the available money on quick fixes is too great for the uneducated person. That means the purchase of fast food for an unbalanced diet and the hazards of alcoholic beverages and other drugs (especially marijuana) to take the stress out of an otherwise boredom riddled day.
Strategies to address medication use in Aboriginal people, especially those from remote areas, must be founded upon their view of the world.
Ends
