Case Study - Health Issues - Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander - Assessment Answer

Case Scenario

Loitja is a 58-year-old Aboriginal woman living in a rural Aboriginal community near Mildura in Victoria. She lives in a very crowded 3-bedroom rental house with two of her adult children and several grandchildren for whom she is the main carer. Loitja receives Social Security benefits so has limited money to be able to afford much fresh fruit, vegetables or meat for her large family.

Loitja is overweight, has high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Two years ago she had a left below-knee amputation and wears a prosthetic limb for ambulation. Type 2 Diabetes has been prevalent among Loitja’s relatives for many years. Alcohol problems and tobacco use are common in the family; and several household members have developed chronic eye problems.

Assignment Task

Q1. Explore and provide the following information about Loitja:

(a) Health Issue-

With reference to the historical, lifestyle & cross-cultural issues that affect ATSI health; select one (1) current or potential health issue from the preceding list.

• Discuss how this health issue could affect Loitja, paying particular attention to relevant ATSI statistics, etc. for her age group; and including her specific personal circumstances and living environment.

b) Government Program-

Using the health issue selected in Question 1(a); conduct research on one (1) specific ATSI Government program / initiative for managing this particular health issue.

• Provide the name and describe the content of the program / initiative which is relevant for this health issue; and how it may be accessed and utilised by Loitja in her locality, to improve her health, and therefore enhance her long-term health outcomes.

Q2. Communication / Cultural Safety:

Effective communication between health professionals and their ATSI patients or colleagues is essential. An understanding of the way ATSI people perceive their health, and an awareness of their culture, may assist the Enrolled Nurse in being culturally sensitive when providing nursing care to ATSI patients or working with ATSI colleagues.

Select one (1) strategy from the following list; then discuss how this strategy can assist the Enrolled Nurse (EN) to acquire and / or use cultural understanding and awareness, and provide cultural safety when working with ATSI patients and / or colleagues. (150 words)

Strategy- (a) Purpose-built ATSI health services / facilities (b) Culturally-sensitive communication techniques for ATSI patients (c) Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers (AHLOs) (d) Cultural awareness training for other non-indigenous staff

Q3. Self-Reflection:

Describe / explain how studying the ATSI Unit, and acquiring relevant knowledge has enhanced / confirmed / changed your perception / attitude towards cultural issues / sensitivity / awareness; and how this acquired knowledge could assist you as an Enrolled Nurse, to work effectively with ATSI patients and / or ATSI colleagues.

Question 1a: Type 2 Diabetes

Loitja who is the main character in the case study hails from an aboriginal background. She is most probable to have type 2 diabetes judging from her physical status only. Her excessive weight, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels put her at great risk of being diabetic. The fact that she is overweight makes it highly likely for her body to be insulin resistant thus making her very highly vulnerable to the disease . With reference to the family’s background, there have been cases of diabetics among various relatives which make her even more prone to being a victim. The other issue is that she clearly lives within an unhealthy environment where nutrition is not a consideration (Abouzeid et al, 2013). Her old age makes it even riskier since the aborigines and the Torres are known to be emotionally insecure and thus could affect her greatly.

Question 1b: Government Program for managing Diabetes type 2

The government makes use of education and intervention programs to let the aboriginal and Torres islander communities know more about diabetes. Families and individuals within the community do not know the risk that is associated with being diabetic. Their cultural perceptions with regards to diabetes are that diabetes is a totally normal disease and does not therefore come with a high risk (Speight et al, 2012). The programs that are set aside for children and adolescents give basic information from which the same children grow up knowing the basic steps to prevent any possible cause of diabetes. The programs make them aware and help them make informed decisions about their health and the things to do in order to prevent the risks that are associated with the same (Brown & Ride, 2016). Lotja could access this informational help through the National Diabetes Services Scheme, and also from the hospital tutors and nurses whose main duty is to spread awareness.

Question 2: Communication/Cultural Safety

Enrolled nurses can be assisted by a strategy such as Purpose-built ATSI health services/facilities. The reason why this strategy would be helpful is the personalisation of the strategy therefore making it easier to focus on the Aboriginal and Torres Islander community (Brown et al, 2015). The strategy will encourage a high level of ATSI community engagement which shall, as a result, lead to effective communication at all times making the nurses’ work easier. Another way that they could get assistance is by having a clear idea of what works for the locals and what does not (Dunbar et al, 2014). ATSI health services will assist the Enrolled Nurses by helping them gather integrated data and also by providing information systems that would give them an easier strategy towards monitoring the community both in general and as individuals.

Question 3: Self Reflection

Studying the ATSI unit and acquiring relevant knowledge confirms my attitude towards the importance of cultural awareness as an Enrolled Nurse. Cultural awareness creates a leeway for communities to feel as though they are part of something important and also playing a necessary role (Vasant et al, 2016). As an enrolled nurse, the importance of the program is that it increases the level of knowledge on the societal perceptions thus making it easier to create a research point and it also points out the aspects that are of direct effects to the particular community. Having such a wide and intense scope of knowledge reduces the barriers that may occur as a result of misconstrued perceptions. Studying the ATSI unit as an enrolled nurse provides a defined aspect of the community that is root cause of the problem and thus helps in better understanding of the introduction of reliable policies and strategies that can be transferred from one community to the other.