Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

The characteristics, implementation and effects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion tools: a systematic literature search

Authors: Janya McCalman, Komla Tsey, Roxanne Bainbridge, Kevin Rowley, Nikki Percival, Lynette O’Donoghue, Jenny Brands, Mary Whiteside, Jenni Judd

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2014

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Health promotion by and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter Indigenous) Australians is critically important given a wide gap in health parity compared to other Australians. The development and implementation of step-by-step guides, instruments, packages, frameworks or resources has provided a feasible and low-resource strategy for strengthening evidence-informed health promotion practice. Yet there has been little assessment of where and how these tools are implemented or their effectiveness. This paper reviews the characteristics, implementation and effects of Indigenous health promotion tools.

Methods

Indigenous health promotion tools were identified through a systematic literature search including a prior scoping study, eight databases, references of other reviews and the authors’ knowledge (n = 1494). Documents in the peer reviewed and grey literature were included if they described or evaluated tools designed, recommended or used for strengthening Indigenous Australian health promotion. Eligible publications were entered into an Excel spreadsheet and documented tools classified according to their characteristics, implementation and effects. Quality was appraised using the Dictionary for Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) and Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tools for quantitative and qualitative studies respectively.

Results

The review found that Indigenous health promotion tools were widely available. Of 74 publications that met inclusion criteria, sixty (81%) documented tools developed specifically for the Indigenous Australian population. All tools had been developed in reference to evidence; but only 22/74 (30%) publications specified intended or actual implementation, and only 11/74 (15%) publications evaluated impacts of the implemented tools. Impacts included health, environmental, community, organisational and health care improvements. The quality of impact evaluations was strong for only five (7%) studies.

Conclusions

The small number and generally moderate quality of implementation and evaluation studies means that little is known about how tools work to strengthen Indigenous health promotion practice. The findings suggest that rather than continuing to invest in tool development, practitioners, policy makers and researchers could evaluate the implementation and effects of existing tools and publish the results. There is a need for long-term investment in research to review the current use of health promotion tools and the factors that are likely to enhance their implementation.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
World Health Organization: Health promotion glossary. Health Prom. 1986, 1: 113-127. 10.1093/heapro/1.1.113.CrossRef
2.
Tsey K: The control factor: a neglected social determinant of health. Lancet. 2008, 372: 1629-1629.CrossRefPubMed
3.
New South Wales Health Department: A framework for building capacity to improve health. 2001, Sydney: NSW Health Department
4.
Australian National Preventive Health Agency: State of preventive health, 2013. Report to the Australian Government Minister for Health. 2013, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2013-
5.
New South Wales Department of Health: Principles for better practice in Aboriginal health promotion. The Sydney Consensus Statement NSW Health 2002. 2004, Sydney: NSW Department of Health
6.
Peters DH, Tran NT, Adam T: Implementation research in health: A practical guide. 2013, Geneva: Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization
7.
Street J, Baum F, Anderson I: Developing a collaborative research system for Aboriginal health. ANZJ Public Health. 2007, 31 (4): 372-378.
8.
Brands J, Gooda M: Putting the users of research in the driver’s seat: the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health’s new approach to research development. Aus Abor Studs. 2006, 2: 27-35.
9.
Wise M, Angus S, Harris E, Parker S: Scoping study of health promotion tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 2012, Lowitja Institute: Melbourne
10.
McCalman J, Tsey K: Discussion paper: The levels of evidence for health promotion tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 2012, Lowitja Institute: Melbourne
11.
12.
Derrick G, Hayen A, Chapman S, Haynes A, Webster B, Anderson I: A bibliometric analysis of research on Indigenous health in Australia, 1972-2008. ANZJ Public Health. 2011, 36 (3): 269-273. doi:10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00806.x
13.
World Health Organization: The Ottawa Charter. 1986
14.
Kitson A, Rycroft-Malone J, Harvey G, McCormack B, Seer K, Titchen A: Evaluating the successful implementation of evidence into practice using the PARIHS framework: theoretical and practical challenges. Impl Sci. 2008, 3 (1): doi:10.1186/1748-5908-3-1
15.
Brands J, Silburn K: Implementation of innovations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care. A review of the literature: Interim report. 2012, Melbourne: Lowitja Institute, 49-
16.
Sackett D, Rosenberg W, Gray J, Haynes RB, Richardson WS: Evidence based medicine. What it is and what it isn’t. BMJ. 1996, 312: 71-72. 10.1136/bmj.312.7023.71.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Stetler C, Damschroder L, Helfrich C, Hagedorn H: A guide for applying a revised version of the PARiHS framework for implementation. Impl Sci. 2011, 6 (99): doi:10.1186/1748-5908-6-99
18.
Kitson A, Harvey G, McCormack B: Enabling the implementation of evidence based practice: a conceptual framework. Qual Health Care. 1998, 7: 149-158. 10.1136/qshc.7.3.149.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
University MM: Effective public health practice quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. 2008, Canada: McMaster University School of Nursing
20.
21.
Davidson PM, DiGiacomo M, Abbott P, Zecchin R, Heal PE, Mieni L, Sheerin N, Smith J, Mark A, Bradbery B, Davison J: A partnership model in the development and implementation of a collaborative, cardiovascular education program for Aboriginal Health Workers. Aus Health Rev. 2008, 32 (1): 139-146. 10.1071/AH080139.CrossRef
22.
Whiteside M, Tsey K, Crouch A, Fagan P: Youth and Relationship Networks (YARNS): mobilising communities for sexual health. Health Prom J of Aus. 2012, 23 (3): 226-230.
23.
D’Espaignet ET, Measey ML, Carnegie MA, Mackerras D: Monitoring the ’Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture Program’: The first eight years. J Paed Child Health. 2003, 39 (9): 668-672. 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00272.x.CrossRef
24.
Hunter E, Brown J, McCulloch B: Encouraging practitioners to use resources: Evaluation of the national implementation of a resource to improve the clinical management of alcohol-related problems in Indigenous primary care settings. Drug Alc Rev. 2004, 23: 89-100. 10.1080/09595230410001645583.CrossRef
25.
Tsey K, Wenitong M, McCalman J, Whiteside M, Baird L, Patterson D, Baird B, Fagan R, Cadet-James Y, Wilson A: A participatory action research process with a rural Indigenous men’s group: monitoring and reinforcing change. Aus J Primary Health. 2004, 10: 130-136.CrossRef
26.
Centre for Appropriate Technology: Evaluation of the Community Water Planner and Community Water Planner Field Guide: Workshop report. 2012, Alice Springs: Centre for Appropriate Technology
27.
Fredericks B, Row Row A, Weazel J: Promoting Healthy Weight in the Central Highlands. Abor Islander Health Worker J. 2005, 29 (5): 30-31.
28.
Rychtarik RG, McGillicuddy NB: Coping skills training and 12-step facilitation for women whose partner has alcoholism: Effects on depression, the partner’s drinking, and partner physical violence. J Cons Clin Psych. 2005, 73 (2): 249-261.CrossRef
29.
Calabria B, Clifford A, Shakeshaft A, Doran C: A systematic review of family-based interventions targeting alcohol misuse and their potential to reduce alcohol-related harm in Indigenous communities. J Studs on Alc Drugs. 2012, 73 (3): 477-488.CrossRef
30.
Moran MF: The practice of participatory planning at Mapoon Aboriginal settlement: Towards community control, ownership and autonomy. Aus Geog Studs. 2004, 42 (3): 339-355. 10.1111/j.1467-8470.2004.00277.x.CrossRef
31.
McEwan A, Tsey K, McCalman J, Travers H: Empowerment and change management in Aboriginal organisations: a case study. Aus Health Rev. 2010, 34: 360-367. 10.1071/AH08696.CrossRef
32.
Hearn S, Nancarrow H, Rose M, Massi L, Wise M, Conigrave K, Barnes I, Bauman A: Evaluating NSW SmokeCheck: a culturally specific smoking cessation training program for health professionals working in Aboriginal health. Health Prom J of Aus. 2011, 22 (3): 189-195.
33.
Rootman I: An Overview of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. 2010, Toronto: Sheela Basrur Centre Symposium
34.
Clifford A, Doran C, Tsey K: A critical review of suicide prevention interventions targeting Indigenous peoples in Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada. BMC Pub Health. 2013, 13 (463): doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-463
35.
Day A, Francisco A: Social and emotional wellbeing in Indigenous Australians: identifying promising interventions. ANZJ Public Health. 2013, 37 (4): 350-355.
36.
McCalman J, Tsey K, Clifford A, Earles W, Shakeshaft A, Bainbridge R: Applying what works: A systematic search of the transfer and implementation of promising Indigenous Australian health services and programs. BMC Pub Health. 2012, 12 (600): doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-600
37.
McCalman J, Bridge F, Tsey K, Bainbridge R, Whiteside M: A systematic literature search of responses to Indigenous sexual assault. 2013, Cairns: Family Planning Queensland Cairns Sexual Assault Service
38.
Paul C, Sanson-Fisher R, Stewart J, Anderson A: Being sorry is not enough. The sorry state of the evidence base for improving the health of Indigenous populations. Am J Prev Med. 2010, 38 (5): 566-568. 10.1016/j.amepre.2010.02.001.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Sanson-Fisher RW, Campbell EM, Perkins JJ, Blunden SV, Davis BB: Indigenous health research: a critical review of outputs over time. MJA. 2006, 184 (10): 502-505.PubMed
40.
Rootman I, Goodstadt M, Hyndman B, McQueen DV, Potvin L, Springett J, Ziglio E: Evaluation in health promotion. Principles and perspectives. WHO Regional Publications European Series. 2001, Copenhagen: World Health Organization, 92:
41.
Partnership NPH: Guidelines for the development, implementation and evaluation of National Public Health Strategies in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Approaches and Recommendations. 2002, Canberra: National Public Health Partnership
Metadata
Title
The characteristics, implementation and effects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion tools: a systematic literature search
Authors
Janya McCalman
Komla Tsey
Roxanne Bainbridge
Kevin Rowley
Nikki Percival
Lynette O’Donoghue
Jenny Brands
Mary Whiteside
Jenni Judd
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-712

Other articles of this Issue 1/2014

BMC Public Health 1/2014 Go to the issue

Study protocol

Economics of chronic diseases protocol: cost-effectiveness modelling and the future burden of non-communicable disease in Europe

Debate

Time to revisit arsenic regulations: comparing drinking water and rice

Study protocol

Preventing substance misuse: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of the Strengthening Families Programme 10–14 UK (SFP 10–14 UK)

Research article

Public knowledge and beliefs about dementia risk reduction: a national survey of Australians

Research article

Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors for child’s physical growth and adiposity rebound of Japanese children: a longitudinal study of the 21st century longitudinal survey in newborns

Research article

The importance of providing counselling and financial support to patients receiving treatment for multi-drug resistant TB: mixed method qualitative and pilot intervention studies