title: Feltman: evaluating the acceptability of a diabetes education tool for Aboriginal health workers.
abstract: There is an urgent need to address the lack of Aboriginal-specific diabetes prevention and management resources. Following consultation with Victorian Aboriginal health workers, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and Diabetes Australia - Victoria developed 'Feltman', a life-sized felt body showing the main organs involved in the digestion and metabolism of food, and the main parts of the body affected by diabetes. Feltman was distributed to all Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and an additional 32 Victorian organisations. In total, 276 people from 57 organisations were trained to use Feltman. An online evaluation survey was developed and sent to all people who were trained to use Feltman in Victoria. Sixty-six people completed the survey. All respondents agreed Feltman was an appropriate tool for the Aboriginal community, 89% of health workers felt more confident in their ability to discuss diabetes with their community but would like further training to maintain skills and confidence and 70% of workers had used Feltman with the community. Qualitative feedback noted its strength as a highly visual resource that was popular with the Aboriginal community. Workers reported that Feltman was a highly acceptable diabetes education resource, which they believed had increased knowledge and improved the management of diabetes among clients.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, 17-23 Sackville Street, Collingwood, Vic. 3066, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Australia - Victoria, 570 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.affiliation: Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, 17-23 Sackville Street, Collingwood, Vic. 3066, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Australia - Victoria, 570 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D008488:Medical Illustration; D014739:Victoria