Over-the-counter analgesic use by urban Aboriginal people in South Australia

Abstract

Despite recent health gains for Australian Aboriginal people their significantly poorer health status compared with that of non-Aboriginal Australians remains significant. Within the context of high levels of mortality and morbidity, research highlights significant barriers to timely health-care, access and safe use of prescribed and over-the-counter medicines. The risks to Aboriginal people's health due to unsafe medication use are preventable. The purpose of this article is to present the findings from qualitative research focused on Aboriginal people's knowledge, use and experience of over-the-counter analgesics. The study was conducted in the north-western metropolitan area of Adelaide, which has the largest urban Aboriginal population in South Australia. The employment of an Aboriginal Elder as Cultural Advisor enabled engagement with Aboriginal participants. Purposive 'snow ball' sampling was used to recruit participants for four focus groups [n = 30] and one participant opting for a personal semi-structured interview. Participants worked with the researchers to develop the findings and formulate recommendations. The 25 women and 6 men, aged 20-80 years reported various chronic medical conditions. Focus groups/interview elicited accounts of critical issues concerning safe selection and use of over-the-counter analgesics. Serious health risks were evident due to limited knowledge about safe analgesic use and over-reliance on information from family, friends and advertising. Extremely poor access was reported by participants to culturally and linguistically appropriate information, education and advice from a range of doctors and other health professionals including Aboriginal health workers.

Community-based initiatives improving critical health literacy: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence

“…All studies targeted CHL implicitly. Some examined CHL by exploring health knowledge and abilities of older adults in their community context [25, 38, 41, 43]. Most studies addressed CHL through factors that indirectly influenced older adults’ health and wellbeing, including personal and lifestyle factors, cultural conditions, and the health care system [26, 27, 29–37, 39–47].…”

“…In many studies older adults shared their knowledge, experiences and wisdom of health issues and health information with younger generations in their family and community [27, 34, 35, 38–41, 43, 45, 46]. In this way, family and community gained health knowledge from older adults: “All of them wanted to remain contributing members of their family unit and community, because they viewed themselves as having knowledge and experiences, due to their extended years of life, which others may not have” [27].…”

“…In such communities older adults often played a special role as ‘health knowledge providers’, as they were highly valued for their knowledge, experiences and wisdom. For example, in some Aboriginal communities [38, 40] ‘trusted elders’ assisted community health workers with advising community members about health issues, health information or medication: “Participants reported that Aboriginal people seek guidance from their Elders because of their wisdom and life experience; the Elder is still here and they have the wisdom and experience of living and that is why we believe them.” [38]…”

“…In some studies, older adults provided social support to their community members [27, 38, 40, 41]. This occurred most often in ethnic minority and migrant communities, where older adults carried out leadership roles, chaired health care volunteers, or provided health and medication information to community members: “Many [older adults] continued to contribute significantly to their community as workers or cultural advisors in a variety of settings including health, welfare, education, courts and correctional services.” [38]…”

Identifying Risk Factors for Incautious Use of Non-Prescription Drugs Among Higher Education Institutions’ Students in Emirates

“…It has been demonstrated in one particular study that participants may intentionally avoid seeking information from healthcare professionals, reading medical books, searching the internet, or from reading drug information leaflets because these sources of information simply "scared" them, for example, by telling them about potential side and adverse effects of a drug [17,18]. Considering the fact that family, friends, and neighbors are limited source of information about ONPDs, still, many people believe in their opinion regarding the safe use of drugs [18,19]. Health-care providers have to work more to change such behavior in our community.…”