Partner organisations
The project is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and supported by James Cook University, the University of Sydney, the University of Western Australia and the Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Healthcare.
Status/timing
The project commenced in 2019 and is currently ongoing.
What does the Project focus on?
Our framework of interventions will identify and address barriers and enablers unique to Indigenous communities. This project leverages off work the investigation team is already doing around improving detection and management of dementia and cognitive impairment in Indigenous Community Controlled Health Organisations. The project will build local capacity and capability to undertake quality improvement initiatives, both clinical and non-clinical, with a focus on dementia risk factor reduction, chronic disease prevention and health promotion. This work will take place within primary health care services to ultimately improve patient health outcomes throughout the life course to reduce the risk of developing dementia and promote healthy ageing later in life.
What type of project/study?
This project uses a participatory action research approach to enable communities to identify and prioritise dementia risk reduction strategies and potential risk and protective factors. Using a continuous quality improvement framework, primary health care centres will address modifiable dementia risk factors identified to change practice and systems through the development of culturally appropriate interventions.
What do we expect to achieve with this project when complete?
The outcome will be a culturally appropriate framework that incorporates evidence-based best-practice guidelines for delivering community specific interventions for risk reduction and prevention of dementia. The framework will establish linkages with existing chronic disease treatment and management programs and healthy lifestyle initiatives.
