Mrs. Mary-Clare Smith1, Ms. Jayla Nix1, Mr. Adam Howie1
1MLHD, Wagga, Australia
Biography:
Mary-Clare Smith has worked as a Registered Nurse for the past 28 years and during the past 5 years has been the lead infection prevention and control clinical nurse consultant for Murrumbidgee Local health district, covering 31 facilities. Mary-Clare has a strong interest in nursing education and valuing the human aspect of staff and patients with infection prevention. Mary-Clare was one of seven applicants across Australia successful in being awarded a National Dementia Fellowship with Flinders University for her dementia support project “Crossing the Bridges together”, aimed at empowering families to support their family member with Alzheimer’s disease.
Abstract:
Introduction
It was identified through collaboration with Murrumbidgee Local Health District infection prevention lead clinical nurse consultant together with their Aboriginal Health leads, that a review of the current status of approaches to preventing and managing cases of Otitis Media in aboriginal children in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District would be beneficial given the ongoing challenges with meeting the demands across Australia.
Method
A promotion stall will be held at the during the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee week 2024, as a means of promoting awareness of this significant health problem, with a specific focus on involving children through the use of art and coloring in of the importance of caring for their ear’s and simultaneously providing education to their families and carer’s at a targeted event in the Wagga Area.
Results
It is envisaged that there will be an increased awareness in the general public in Murrumbidgee Local Health District after the event takes place, leading to an increase in referrals for otitis media in aboriginal children, this will be determined through feedback on the day.
Conclusion
A review of the day will be conducted after the event with a view to embarking on future research the Murrumbidgee Local Health District Aboriginal Health Manager and Research Lead together with the District Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Consultant Lead and Aboriginal Community Health Staff and Consumers.