A scoping review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion programs focused on modifying chronic disease risk factors.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Noncommunicable chronic disease underlies much of the life expectancy gap experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Modifying contributing risk factors; tobacco smoking, nutrition, alcohol consumption, physical activity, social and emotional wellbeing (SNAPS) could help close this disease gap. This scoping review identified and describes SNAPS health promotion programs implemented for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. METHODS: Databases PubMed, CINAHL, Informit (Health Collection and Indigenous Peoples Collection), Scopus, Trove and relevant websites and clearing houses were searched for eligible studies until June 2015. To meet the inclusion criteria the program had to focus on modifying one of the SNAPS risk factors and the majority of participants had to identify as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage. RESULTS: The review identified 71 health promotion programs, described in 83 publications. Programs were implemented across a range of health and community settings and included all Australian states and territories, from major cities to remote communities. The SNAPS factor addressed most commonly was nutrition. Some programs included the whole community, or had multiple key audiences, whilst others focused solely on one subgroup of the population such as chronic disease patients, pregnant women or youth. Fourteen of the programs reported no outcome assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Health promotion programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have not been adequately evaluated. The majority of programs focused on the development of individual skills and changing personal behaviours without addressing the other health promotion action areas, such as creating supportive environments or reorienting health care services. SO WHAT?: This scoping review provides a summary of the health promotion programs that have been delivered in Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to prevent or manage chronic disease. These programs, although many are limited in quality, should be used to inform future programs. To improve evidence-based health promotion practice, health promotion initiatives need to be evaluated and the findings published publicly.

The effectiveness of in-hospital interventions on reducing hospital length of stay and readmission of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A systematic review.

AIM: This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of multifaceted in-hospital interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on hospital readmission, hospital length of stay (LOS), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). METHODS: The search included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Emcare, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Google Scholar from 2007 to current date and restricted to English. The differences in outcome measures were calculated to determine the effectiveness. RESULTS: The title and abstract of 3251 records were initially screened. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies comprised of a wide range of intervention components and outcome measures. The reduction in hospital LOS ranged from 0.5 to 0.8 of a day. Clinically significant improvements in HbA1c concentration levels ranged from a mean reduction of -1.1 (±2.2) mmol/L to -2.8 (±2.7) mmol/L. There were no significant changes in hospital readmission rates and no evidence of the impact of HbA1c on hospital LOS and readmission. Common strategies in reducing hospital LOS and HbA1c were a dedicated care team, hospital wide approach, quality improvement focus, insulin therapy, early short-term intensive program, transition to primary care physicians, and on-going outpatient follow-up for at least 6-12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The findings illustrate that multifaceted in-hospital intervention for patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can contribute to improvements in hospital LOS and HbA1c concentration.