Unmet Needs of Aboriginal Australians With Musculoskeletal Pain: A Mixed‐Method Systematic Review

Abstract

Findings provide preliminary evidence of an increased MSP burden among Aboriginal Australians, and particularly for OA, a mismatch between the disease burden and access to health care. To increase accessibility, health services should initially focus on improving Aboriginal patients' experiences of care, in particular by improving patient-practitioner communication. Implications for care and research are outlined.

Opportunities and challenges for physical rehabilitation with indigenous populations

“…Several systematic reviews of pain conditions amongst Indigenous peoples have included the prevalence and burden of pain conditions summarised from population-level studies. In Australia, the prevalence of LBP amongst Aboriginal Australians is 1.1 times the rate of non-Aboriginal Australians, 58 and in the United States, American Indian and Alaska Natives reported a higher prevalence of LBP (35 vs 26.4%) and neck pain (20.7 vs 15.3%) when compared to the general or white population. 49 A systematic review of rheumatic diseases in Indigenous populations of Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand reported that OA affected up to 17% of American Indian/Alaska Native women, 22% of Canadian First Nations people, 32% of Aboriginal Australians, and 6% of New Zealand Maori.…”

“… 49 A systematic review of rheumatic diseases in Indigenous populations of Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand reported that OA affected up to 17% of American Indian/Alaska Native women, 22% of Canadian First Nations people, 32% of Aboriginal Australians, and 6% of New Zealand Maori. 61 For Aboriginal Australians, this represents a prevalence 1.2 to 1.5 times higher than the general population rate, 58 and amongst First Nations peoples in Alberta, Canada, the prevalence of OA is nearly double that of the non-First Nation population. 12 Inflammatory rheumatic diseases also occur at increased rates in Indigenous populations.…”

“… 12 Inflammatory rheumatic diseases also occur at increased rates in Indigenous populations. For Aboriginal Australians, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs at 1.0 to 2.0 times the general population rates, 58 and for First Nations in Alberta, Canada, the prevalence of RA is 2 to 3 times the non-First Nations populations rates. 13 Systemic lupus erythematosus prevalence was also disproportionately high.…”

Tackling the Burden of Osteoarthritis as a Health Care Opportunity in Indigenous Communities—A Call to Action

“…A systematic review of Indigenous populations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA highlighted a lack of evidence in this area [ 21 ], while another Australian review concluded that the management of osteoarthritis in Indigenous Australians is an unmet health need [ 22 ]. The health needs of Indigenous peoples are complex, and until now, priority has been given to conditions that directly contribute to the disparities in life expectancy and the ‘’health gap’’, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and child and maternal health.…”

Primary care management of non‐specific low back pain: key messages from recent clinical guidelines

“…A recent systematic review of musculoskeletal pain among Aboriginal Australians 3 summarised that the prevalence of low back pain is higher among Aboriginal Australians and has disproportional impacts. Qualitatively, low back pain has multidimensional effects, including functional, cultural and emotional.…”