Abstract
Introduction: The prevalence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among Australia’s First Nations populations are some of the highest in the world, accounting for 95% of the 2,244 ARF notifications between 2015 and 2019 in Australia. A key issue in treating ARF is long-term secondary prophylaxis, yet only one in five patients received treatment in 2019. This review identifies barriers to secondary prophylaxis of ARF in Australia’s First Nations people.
Methods: An integrative review was undertaken utilizing PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Wiley Online. Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used, followed by thematic analysis.
Results: The key themes uncovered included: issues with database and recall systems, patient/family characteristics, service delivery location and site, pain of injection, education (including language barriers), and patient-clinician relationship.
Conclusions: A national RHD register, change in operation model, improved pain management, improved education, and need for consistent personnel is suggested.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 443-452 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Transcultural Nursing |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 12 Aug 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2023 |
Keywords
- acute rheumatic fever
- indigenous peoples
- rheumatic heart disease
- secondary prevention