see also ... Clinical Skills Canberra PCH 2000
5th National RHC Alice Springs

Abstract of Paper 6th National Rural Health Conference March 2001

There is a growing awareness of the inequities in health within rural communities compared to metropolitan areas.

Our Nation's goals, targets and strategies for better health outcomes for Australians include the reduction of "mortality from, and the impact of, coronary heart disease on the Australian population" (Department of Human Services and Health, 1994, p.22). The National Rural Health Alliance (1997) also recognises a capacity deficiency in rural communities to design and run their own local public health programs.

Our project, an Action Based Research Cardiovascular Health Promotion program, sought to increase this capacity. The aim of the project was to foster the development of coordinated health promotion strategies, to help reduce heart disease risks.

With the rural history associated with heart disease the objective of the Project based around the workplace setting, was to bring:

• A greater awareness of the risks of heart disease to a large group within the community
• To create a better understanding of the level of personal risk within the community to the attention of health practitioners
• To provide a mechanism by which Health Services could better target communities with a health promotion program
• Provide participants with a much clearer and more self-evident personal risk factor "appraisal"
• To link the Community Health Services with General Practitioners (GPs) in a process that would support the reduction of pre-existing risk factors of heart disease
• Develop a Package at the end of the Project based on Best Practice and Action Research that provides a pathway for participants to reduce their cardiovascular health risk through the health system

This is based on our Rural Model of Health Promotion which is a system of prevention with the premise that Recognition of risks Empowers individuals to reduce risks.

The project achieved this aim and objective based on Pre and Post tests through a 12 month Primary Health Workplace Program utilizing the services of local allied health workers and GP's. The project improved screening processes, resources and evaluation. It also highlighted the value of allied health staff in supporting GPs to identify and reduce risk factors, especially through a collaborative referral service.

The Workplace Setting approach in schools with teachers and older students also greatly impacted on the wider community through association, providing a model of good health outcomes. Our program is Adaptable and Affordable within existing health structures. Our Paper will demonstrate this experience.