Doctors want tighter restrictions on alcohol advertising

18 July 2024

The Royal Australasian CollegeA new study published in the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)’s Internal Medicine Journal (IMJ) has found Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living with chronic Hepatitis B are significantly less likely to receive guideline-recommended medical care.

Researchers say this is exacerbating existing health inequities and reflects a lack of progress towards achieving Australia’s National Hepatitis B Strategy targets.

The research examined the medical records of 255 individuals living with chronic Hepatitis B in regional North Queensland and found only 42 percent remained engaged in medical care after receiving a diagnosis and only 38 per cent were receiving guideline-recommended medical care.

Researchers found the only independent factor determining whether an individual was receiving appropriate and adequate medical care for their condition was their Indigenous status.

While there is no cure for chronic Hepatitis B, it is vital that individuals living with the condition receive appropriate care in the form of regular medical review, blood tests, screening for liver cancer and, where necessary, antiviral treatment, to ensure that they can have optimal long term outcomes.

Dr Rozemary Karamatic, the lead researcher and resident gastroenterologist at Townsville University Hospital, said the findings highlighted the need for urgent implementation of the recommendations from the National Hepatitis B Strategy on improving access to care for Indigenous Australians.

“Australia is struggling to meet the targets set out in our National Hepatitis B Strategy and these findings show that a significant reason is the low levels of ongoing medical support accessed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Despite being identified as a key priority population in the strategy, Indigenous Australians have not been receiving recommended medical care.

“This is in stark contrast with other priority groups identified in the strategy, including individuals born overseas and those who do not speak English as their first language.

“According to our analysis, over 64 per cent of foreign-born individuals living with chronic Hepatitis B are engaged in ongoing medical care, and that number rises to about 80 per cent for individuals who do not speak English as a first language.

“Measures such as providing people with interpreters and translators have proven to be extremely successful for this cohort and demonstrates that barriers to optimal care can be overcome.

“It is imperative that the Department of Health and medical professionals around the country model a similar approach to provide culturally appropriate care and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with chronic Hepatitis B.

Dr Chaw Yu Pa Han, co-researcher said, “Through consultation and engagement with local Indigenous communities we can develop models of care which are best suited to meet their needs.

“This may include de-centralising medical care and enabling Indigenous Australians to access specialist support within their communities, instead of commuting to hospitals or clinics.

“Indigenous people across Australia all have different challenges they often face when interacting with the medical system and it is vital that we recognise this and work towards building solutions that directly address them,” Dr Han said.

Dr Josh Hanson, who also contributed to the research said that instead of relying on one-siz fits all approaches, which are ineffective and do not help serve the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, governments and medical professionals must prioritise tailored solutions.

“Despite making progress in the recent past, the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and their non-Indigenous counterparts remains stark, as is attested by these findings.

“To meaningfully address these challenges and take concrete steps towards closing the health gap, we must re-think our current approach to addressing key medical issues, including chronic Hepatitis B.

“Ensuring that Indigenous communities are consulted regularly on the models of care best suited to their needs is key to this,” Dr Hanson said.

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