Health promotion resources for Aboriginal people: lessons learned from consultation and evaluation of diabetes foot care resources

Abstract

ISSUES ADDRESSED: Despite the startling age specific rate ratio for amputations in 25-49 year olds of, 41.25 for knee amputations and 27.5 for toe/foot amputations for Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal people, there are no diabetes foot care education brochures or health promotion media available free of charge for Aboriginal people. This study consulted Aboriginal people about existing and potential resources for education on foot care. METHOD: An Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal interviewer conducted six focus group discussions with a total of 60 Aboriginal people including Elders, community members, health workers, students and nurses. Focus groups discussed which materials, media and foot care messages worked best to communicate diabetes foot care messages. RESULTS: Participants were unequivocal in their preference for real pictures of foot problems rather than cartoons, clearly identifying a superior existing educational resource from the Indigenous Diabetic Foot Program. There was minimal support for many existing media and foot care messages. Participants preferred to develop their own messages and selected utilitarian media that would be used by all members of the Aboriginal community. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the delivery of the Indigenous Diabetic Foot Program in Western Australia. Consultation and involvement of Aboriginal people was consistent with Aboriginal peoples' preferred style of conversation and inclusion and allowed the target audience to determine the end product for use in education and health promotion.

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