Summary:

There are significant differences in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the rest of the population living in Queensland. A lot of this can be addressed by changing three key lifestyle factors: smoking, nutrition and physical activity.

From 2017 to 2020, the B.strong Brief Intervention Training Program has given Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community workforce knowledge, skills and tools to provide brief interventions to promote healthy changes to their clients. Training has been provided across Queensland in all Hospital and Health Service areas.

The B.strong Training Program was also provided to staff working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in non-health settings such as schools and correctional facilities. Training was available to all staff working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in the government and non-government health and community sectors.

B.strong for Pregnancy and Early Life was designed, developed and successfully piloted by Menzies School of Health Research with funding and support from Queensland Health. Resources include the B.strong for Baby in Pregnancy and Early Life client booklet and the online training module, B.strong in Pregnancy and Early Life. The B.strong for Baby in Pregnancy and Early Life client booklet was designed to support health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the first 1000 days of baby’s life. It was co-developed with community members, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, and representatives from maternity and child health services across Queensland.

For access to these resources please use the following link:  https://insight.qld.edu.au/shop/bstrong-resources-order-form or contact the Preventive Health Branch, Queensland Health - prevention_strategy@health.qld.gov.au.

B.strong has been delivered by Menzies School of Health Research and was proudly funded by Queensland Health.

Combining brief interventions for multiple risk factors can improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders by providing a clinical framework to guide screening and intervention.

B.strong aimed to:
  1. Increase practitioner access to brief intervention training
  2. Deliver more brief intervention services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in primary and community care settings
  3. Assess and refer more clients to early intervention programs and services
  4. Improve understanding and awareness of key risk factors for chronic disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the longer term. 
B.strong delivery:

B.strong provided culturally appropriate training and resource material. It included a one-day face-to-face workshop, six online modules and practitioner and client resource kits. The program was based on the SmokeCheck Brief Intervention Training Program and the Lifestyle Program (nutrition and physical activity) previously delivered by Queensland Health. 

Further information:

For further information on this program, contact communications@menzies.edu.au.

 

  1. Sebastian, S., Thomas, D.P., Brimblecombe, J. & Cunningham, F.C. (2021). Notes From the Field: Applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research in a Qualitative Evaluation of Implementation of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Brief Intervention Training Program. Evaluation and the Health Professions. February 2021. doi:10.1177/0163278721992815
  2. Sebastian, S., Thomas, D.P., Brimblecombe, J., Majoni, V. & Cunningham, F.C. (2020). Factors impacting on development and implementation of training programs for health professionals to deliver brief interventions, with a focus on programs developed for Indigenous clients: a literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17,1094. doi:10.3390/ijerph17031094
  3. Fazelipour, M. & Cunningham, F. (2019). Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of brief interventions targeting smoking, nutrition, and physical activity for Indigenous populations: a narrative review. International Journal of Equity in Health, 18, 169. doi: 10.1186/s12939-019-1059-2.
  4. B.strong Update – results to December 2018. Prepared by Cunningham, F., Murphy, M., Hornby-Turner, Y., Jurgensen, S. & Arley, B.
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