Adult health checks for Indigenous Australians: the first year's experience from the Inala Indigenous Health Service.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of the adult health check for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15-54 years, in an urban Indigenous primary health care setting.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of Indigenous patients recruited opportunistically from the Inala Indigenous Health Service between 1 June 2007 and 31 July 2008.


METHODS
Newly identified cardiovascular risk factors, investigations ordered and performed, interventions and new diagnoses made.


RESULTS
413 patients out of a possible 509 consented to participate (93% were Aboriginal). High prevalences of cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking (67%), being overweight and obese (61%), harmful levels of alcohol consumption (36%), and depression (23%) were found. The adult health checks resulted in new investigations (in 82% of participants), lifestyle advice (67%), vaccinations (42%), referrals (62%) and new medications (49%). New diagnoses resulting from the health checks included depression (6%), a harmful level of alcohol consumption (4%), chlamydia infection (4%), hypertension (3%) and diabetes (3%). Pap smears were performed in 47% of women as a result of the health check.


CONCLUSIONS
The adult health check for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15-54 years is a viable vehicle for evaluating health status, identifying chronic disease risk factors and for implementing preventive health care.
Spurling
Geoffrey K P
GK
University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. g.spurling@uq.edu.au
Hayman
Noel E
NE
Cooney
Anna L
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult