Improving primary care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with rheumatic heart disease: What can I do?

Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, with devastating impacts on morbidity, mortality and community wellbeing. Research suggests that general practitioners and primary care staff perceive insurmountable barriers to improving clinical outcomes, including the need for systemic change outside their scope of practice.

Citation:
Wyber R, Ralph AP, Bowen AC, Wade V, Bessarab D, Haynes E. Improving primary care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with rheumatic heart disease: What can I do? Aust J Gen Pract. 2022;51(12):959-64.

Keywords:
Australia; general practitioner; primary health care; rheumatic fever; rheumatic heart disease

Abstract:
Background
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, with devastating impacts on morbidity, mortality and community wellbeing. Research suggests that general practitioners and primary care staff perceive insurmountable barriers to improving clinical outcomes, including the need for systemic change outside their scope of practice.

Objective
The aim of this article is to identify constructive, micro-level strategies that primary healthcare clinicians can consider, adopt and sustainably use to improve care for people with ARF and RHD in their routine clinical practice.

Discussion
Through skilled clinical care, reflection and culturally safe practices, individual primary healthcare clinicians have substantial capacity to improve care experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities affected by ARF and RHD.