Health Care System in Australia - Literature review Example

Title: Critical Review Name Course Tutor September 8, 2012 Introduction This paper presents a critical review of three particular journal articles about the health of Australian communities specifically in relation to the health care system in Australia with the many health conditions that are prevalent in the communities. Accordingly, I will first explore the Australian aboriginal population and the social determinants of health as expounded by Gallaher et al (2009). For instance, Gallaher and his colleagues contends that the aboriginal people in Australia can achieve their potential, live happily and share in the prosperity of the state only if their health standards and their health status is looked into (Gallaher et al, 2009, pp. 35-42). His report is a study of the health needs of the aboriginal people and the Torres State Islander people living in Adelaide. Specifically, he asserts that policy failure is what has led to the overwhelming differences in health outcomes between the aboriginal people, the Torres islanders and the rest of the population in Australia. At pages 35-42, the authors state that there are social determinants of health that could be improved in order to raise their health status. These are outlined as good neighbourhood life, the physical environment, accessibility to social services and amenities, and the social environment which contributes to a sense of community among others. The authors also contend that the health of the aboriginal people will only improve relative to that of the fellow Australians if the social determinants of health are factored as issues to be put into consideration (Gallaher et al, 2009). The article exhaustively explains on the social determinants such as housing, good education and employment that brings substantive income, active representation and participation in state governance, good transport facilities, supportive networks and increasing the accessibility and affordability of health services (Gallaher et al, 2009) just to mention a few. Moreover, the article also touches on racism and how it has affected the health of the aboriginal people. For instance it reveals interviews with a sample of the population regarding the effects of racism on their mental and physical health (Gallaher et al, 2009). Notably, it was found out those experiences of racism left people felling angry, annoyed and unwanted. It has profound effects on the mental health of the people since it affects people emotionally. Many of those who had experienced racism have very poor mental health (Gallaher et al, 2009). At page 41, the authors assert that there is no significant relationship between poorer physical health and undergoing racism. This is what I find quite flawed. In my understanding of several readings, there is a very genuine relationship between racism and the state of the physical health of the aboriginal people and the Torres Islander population. According to McDermott (2012), racism is a social determinant of health that affects both the mental and physical aspects of a person’s health. In recent policy formulations for instance, all doctors are trained to work effectively with the Torres Islander Australians and the aboriginal population by putting into consideration the element of racism as a crucial medical factor (McDermott, 2012, p. 5). Moreover, racism is a great determinant of the inequities that exist between the different populations. Therefore, I would critically assert that there is also lack of enough evidence to support the conclusion that racism does not affect the physical health of the aboriginal people and the Torres islander populations in Australia (McDermott, 2012). This means that there is lack of current data in the article as recent studies have shown that experiences of racism have had very detrimental impacts on the general health of the two populations. This has clearly explained why there is a sharp contrast in the health of these two populations and that of the rest of the Australian people (McDermott, 2012). Gallaher et al (2009), also suggests that closing the gap of the health inequities will require reducing the levels of racism but does not indicate how. The article is also not very clear on the most effective ways in which the above could be achieved. Accordingly, the health sector may put in place short term strategies like reaching out to the indigenous people through mobile avenues and later on put in place long term solutions. The benefits of these will translate into very positive health outcomes for the indigenous population. Secondly, a peer reviewed article, Towards a health strategy for refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria (Victoria, 2004, p. 33)the author explores the state of the refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria part of Australia while contending on the several measures that could be taken to improve it. From the readings, it is clear that a large number of refugees who come into Australia settle in Victoria. Significantly, they have a history of brutal and horrific experiences as noted by the author (Victoria, 2004). They also suffer a very high incidence of physical and mental problems compared to the natives born in Australia. For instance, they have very limited access to health care, housing and employment (Victoria, 2004). It is therefore the responsibility of our health care system to ensure that the health and the wellbeing of the refugees given the priority it deserves (Barnes, 2003, pp. 5-29). This will help the refugees to deal effectively with the trauma they undergo and also to settle effectively and comfortably. According to the author, there are a lot of gaps and weaknesses in the way the government has been providing health and community services to the refugees (Victoria, 2004). The articled report also documents comprehensively the health concerns of refugees in the Australian Victoria. For example, it is noted at page 8 that the physical, mental health and the wellbeing of the refugees do not only depend on access to health care services. The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies social and economic factors such as education, employment and housing (Victoria, 2004) just to mention a few. What the literature fails to note is that the social and health services, even if provided must be of high quality to ensure effectiveness and good medical care. For a nursing practitioner, it is very essential to know that delivering effective health services to refugees can be quite demanding. This is because it incorporates even social and economic aspects of their lives. As per Watters, making wide distinctions between health and social care could prove to be very unhelpful in providing health care to refugees communities in Australia. For example, an asylum seeker who has been separated from their family and friends and does not even know where his food will come from will tend to be very unreceptive towards counselling and therapy (Watters 2001 pp. 1712-13). There is a lot of potentially relevant information in this piece of literature regarding the delivery of health care to refugees and asylum seekers that will help me in my practice as a nurse. The author makes the reader to understand comprehensively on the key social determinants of the health of refugees (Barnes, 2003). There is also the role of health services agencies that which can have a significant impact on the general wellbeing of the refugees. This are very well explained in the text. A clear analysis of the article helps me to develop a comprehensive of how to develop my nursing practices when dealing with refugees. For instance I am advised to always act in the best interest of the patient. I should also be able to identify all the victims of torture and be capable of knowing how to manage the trauma (Barnes, 2003). Moreover, a nursing practitioner in this field must have the skills to identify suicide risks, mental conditions in the different age groups together with the different ways of managing them as well as recognising the particular health related conditions that are more prevalent in asylum seekers and refugees (Barnes, 2003). These health issues are noted down summarily as the refugee experience of torture, fleeing from persecution and traumatic experiences which may lead to poor physical and mental health. Others are limited and disrupted access to health care, the difficulties in settling down, a hard socio-economic status, large amounts of stress, poor quality of environment during their early lives, experiences of social exclusion, lack of social support and poor diet and food supply (Victoria, 2004). These conditions will lead to a very poor well being of the communities. In critical review of the literature, several factors have also been listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO)as pertinent to improving the mental and physical wellbeing of the refugees in general. These include, social connection, active participation in economic and political processes and non-discrimination and non-violence (McDermott, 2012). The health concerns of refugee children and young people must also be put into consideration. It is my personal opinion that this particular article has been well documented exhaustively researched to cover all the aspects of the health issues that affect refugees and asylum seekers in Australia (Barnes, 2003). It is thus essentially useful in my practice as a nursing professional in future. Thirdly, there are also health concerns for the low social economic groups in Australia. For instance, literature review of the article by NSW Oral Health Alliance (2007), indicates that most Australians who are socio economically disadvantaged are at a higher risk of experiencing mortality and morbidity rates than those of other groups. The article focuses on poor oral health and how it can lead to detrimental impacts on the health of a person. It incorporated different case studies including the disadvantaged people who earn very low income. As a nursing practitioner, I found the book very clear and completely exhaustive on issues of the health concerns of low income people especially on oral and dental health (NSW Oral Health Alliance, 2007). The authors contend that I should first of all be able to talk with my client about their oral health experiences. People who have very low support income experience the worst oral health outcomes than a majority of the rest of the groups. This is true and proved as discussed in the article. Importantly, it is proved that the poorer a person is, the worse their oral health will get. For instance, it was found out that government concession card holders in Australia are less likely to report poor oral health than non- holders (Walker & Abello, 2000). Moreover, children who that are born in low socio-economic groups are more likely to report tooth decay compared to those who are born in high socio economic groups (Walker & Abello, 2000, pp. 33-42). It was also noted that low income people cannot access quality dental health care services from a very young age. This is so because their parents cannot afford the hospital bills. They therefore tend to develop complications from as early as their childhood years. Most of them avoid seeking for a practitioners care due to the costs (NSW Oral Health Alliance, 2007). From the evidence illustrated in a supporting article, individuals from this lower class of people have a also higher tendency of being affected by cardiovascular diseases and diabetes (Zhang, 2007). This contributes to very adverse health outcomes. It is also compounded by the fact that these people attend fewer consultation sessions which leads to poor prognosis. The article clearly advises practitioners to thus pay more attention to disadvantaged groups. For purposes of future study, more research should have been done to provide a clear understanding of how nurses can use preventive health services to improve the health status of low income people. Conclusion To sum it all up, different Australian communities have different and unique health care concerns according to their setting and several other factors. The articles reviewed above have focused on the aboriginal indigenous and the Torres islander population, the refugees and the low income people respectively. The discussions on the three community cohorts have been critically analysed as evidenced above with the flawed literature being pointed out. However, they generally provide essential information required by any nursing practitioner. Works Cited Barnes, D. (2003). Asylum seekers and refugees in Australia: Issues of mental health and wellbeing. Parramatta, NSW: Transcultural Mental Health Centre.pp.5-29 Gallaher, G.et al (2009). In our own backyard: Urban health inequities and Aboriginal experiences of neighbourhood life, social capital and racism. Adelaide: Flinders University.pp. 35-42 McDermott, D. R. (2012). Can we educate out of racism?. The Medical Journal of Australia, 197( 1) 15. NSW Oral Health Alliance. (2010). Issues in oral health for low income and disadvantaged groups in NSW: An advocacy kit for community & welfare non-government organisations (NGOs). Surry Hills, NSW: NSW Oral Health Alliance.pp.3-17 Victoria., & Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture. (2004). Towards a health strategy for refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria: Summary of a report prepared for the Victorian Department of Human Services. Parkville, Vic: Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture.pp.6-113 Taylor L. et al(2012). Enhanced reporting of deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples using linked administrative health datasets. (BioMed Central Ltd.) BioMed Central Ltd.pp.33-114 Walker, A., & Abello, A. (2000). Changes in the health status of low income groups in Australia, 1977-78 to 1995. Bruce, ACT: National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling, University of Canberra (NATSEM.pp. 33-42 Zhang, J., & Queensland University of Technology. (2007). Socioeconomic position and utilisation of preventive health services among adults in the general population.pp.2-26 Read More