Evaluate A Strategy Being Used To Address A Health Problem In Australia - Essay Example

Evaluate a strategy being used to address a health problem in Australia Name of the Student: Name of the Instructor: Name of the course: Code of the course: Submission date: Word count: 3, 190 Introduction According to the Western Australia Department of Health (2004), heart diseases, diabetes and falls are the largest causes of hospitalization in Western Australia. This is exemplified by the fact that in 2002, there were 11,800 admissions for heart diseases, 12, 000 for falls and 5,300 for diabetes.This has been the foundation of the instigation of diverse health campaigns aimed at curtailing or at least minimizing the detrimental impacts of the chronic diseases on the Australian population. This is best epitomized by the measure up which aimed at reducing the risk factors for the aforementioned chronic diseases. In this regard, this paper will evaluate this health strategy aimed at addressing the chronic health problem in Australia. It is worth noting that this analysis will majorly advocate for the continuation of this campaign. It has been pointed out that the increased prevalence of chronic diseases among members of the Australian population has shaped the paradigm shift in regard to increased focus towards more efforts aimed at the prevention of chronic diseases for instance cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and cancers, which are bound to be more profound in the next decade due to the their elevated prevalence in the future. Mathers, Vos and Stevenson (1999) cited that in the current situation of Australian public health, the above stated among other chronic diseases are accountable for around 70% of the overall illness burden and injuries that are experienced by the Australian population. Moreover, cancer, cardiovascular disease and injury are responsible for around 70% of the deaths in the country. Thus, the measure up initiative being spearheaded in diverse regions in Australia is a profound strategy of curtailing these trends and it’s imperative role in reducing the costs associated with managing chronic cases both in the short and long-term among the Australian population is explored in subsequent sections. Measure up campaign at a glance According to the Measure up campaign website (2010), this campaign is a part of the larger Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) which was funded between 2006 and 2010. This was a national program which was supported by the Australian, state and territory governments. A commendable amount of $500 million was allocated to this national program for over four years which aimed at the reduction of the incidence of risk factors which primarily promote the prevalence of chronic diseases which is coupled with the reduction of new and current cases of ailments in Australia. Against this background, the Measure up campaign was recognized to be at the core of these ABHI undertakings which aimed at elevating healthy lifestyles and choices. This campaign has both primary and secondary age bracket targets. According to Measure up campaign website (2010), this campaign primarily targets the 25-50 year olds members of the Australian population who have children. This is based on the rationale that the behaviors of the parents have a high likelihood of influencing the lifestyle behaviors of the children. On the other hand, the secondary target of this campaign is the 45-60 year olds who are likely to either having being diagnosed with the chronic diseases or are living through the corollaries of an unhealthy lifestyle. This campaign had both short and long-term objectives. In regard to the short-term objectives, this campaign aims at heightening the awareness on the close linkage between lifestyle risk factors like unhealthy weight, poor nutrition and physical inactivity and chronic diseases. In addition, the campaign seeks to increase the appreciation of why the changes in lifestyle should be an exigent priority in Australian healthcare policies (Measure up campaign website, 2010) In regard to the long-term objectives, Measure up campaign aims at inspiring members of the Australian population to make and sustain behavioral changes, such as healthier eating habits and heightened physical activities towards levels which are medically recommended. In doing this, they are bound to make substantial contribution towards morbidity and mortality minimization as a result of chronic diseases related to lifestyle among adults in Australia (Measure up campaign website, 2010). This can be perceived as a response to a National Health Survey 2007-2008 which revealed that 61% of the adults in Australia were overweight or in worse cases, obese (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008). The measure up campaign is concurrent with the Australian national health priority areas on diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases among others. In this regard, this campaign aims at reducing the illness burden of these diseases on the Australian healthcare system. The following figure shows the burden of disease in South Australia 2001-2003. Figure 1.0: Burden of disease in South Australia 2001-2003 Source: Government of South Australia (2009) Arguing for the continuation of the Measure up campaign Despite the heightened expenditure on this campaign, majority of the proponents have determined that the outcomes of this strategy have massive merits in reducing the disease burden in Australia, the level of mortality among members of the Australian population as well as reduced cases of hospitalization which continue to strain the healthcare system in the country. This is supported by Wolff and Anderson (2002) who determined that the generic occurrences of multiple chronic diseases has a close association with a slump in diverse health outcomes which includes but not limited to mortality, psychological distress, elevated hospitalization, quality of life as well as utility of healthcare resources. Against this backdrop, the subsequent analysis will focus on the core tenets of the measure up campaign aimed at reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases among members of the Australian population as a means of rationalizing its continuation. Physical activities This encompasses both rigorous activities like sports and cycling and moderate physical activities like walking. According to Bellew (2008), a physical activity controlled trial conducted in Japan in 2008 revealed that heightened awareness of the merits of physical activities which utilized health promotion campaigns and environmental rearrangement, primarily targeting walking appeared to have posed diverse positive impacts and changes in serum HDL-cholesterol in the participants. On the other hand, Toronto among other cities have been in the forefront in the adoption of policies that have been key in ensuring that cycling and walking are given significant consideration in the land use, facility and roadway planning (Toronto Public Health, 2012). As previously mentioned, there is a robust body of research in the contemporary world which has supported the link between regular physical activity and reduced prevalence of chronic diseases. The instigation of studies on this subject emerged as early as 1950s whereby it was found out that the reported cases of heart diseases among bus conductors who were occupationally physically active were far lower than among the bus drivers who were occupationally sedentary despite these two parties sharing similar occupational background (Cavill & Davis, 2007). Better Health Channel (2011) determined that physical activity does not have to be done vigorously and for long periods of time aimed at improving one’s health. This is evidenced by a study that was conducted among inactive women which revealed that even minimal exercise-like 75 minutes of walking per week immensely improved the level of fitness when compared to non-exercising groups. In regard to other physical activities like cycling, a research cited in Roberts et al. (1996), revealed that one third of the sample population chose cycling for work commuting in order to enjoy the fresh air and also to obtain fitness and health benefits from the activity. On the other hand, 30% of the respondent cited economic reasons and convenience as the major driving factors towards embracing cycling in their daily commuting. Against this background, it is apparent that the promotion of cycling as a favorable mode of transportation is chief in the minimization of the national economic allocation to healthcare in Australia, mostly when focusing on the aforementioned diseases among others in any given community. This can be achieved through efficient disbursement of information to the society which is linked to Ottawa Charter action area of strengthening community action. Nutrition and chronic disease Popkin, Horton, and Kim (2001) cited that there has been widespread consensus over the years that the nature and the quality of diet have a direct influence on the degree of acquiring chronic diseases. This includes those that have in the recent decades been the chief causes of premature deaths in regions which are categorized as economically developed. In this regard, there has been cognition of the fact that changes in the diet may be helpful in the reduction of risks of chronic diseases. This includes but not limited to eating diets which have low levels of fats and sugars and rich in vegetables, fruits and wholegrain foods. This formed the main foundation of the commitment to health promotion in the Ottawa charter which aimed at countering pressures on public health brought about by depletion of resources, bad nutrition and unhealthy living conditions. Historical and current issues informing the success of measure up campaign There are diverse historical as well as contemporary issues that are bound to inform the success of this campaign. Perhaps the most predominant historical issue that is bound to see the success of this campaign is a gradual shift from curative towards preventive public health. According to RACGP National Standing Committee (2006) the concept of prevention is founded on the presumption that it is better to avoid a disease or disability than treating the disease or the disability at a later time. This is best epitomized by the fact that it is more effective to offer advice on healthy and weight diet than trying to manage noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Nonetheless, this practice has for long been ignored by public health stakeholders and practitioners which has culminated in many people being booked into hospitals for diseases which would have otherwise been prevented in the first place. This fact is supported by Duckett (2008) who determined that majority of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders are often booked into hospitals for diseases which would otherwise have been prevented or their incidences minimized through effective and efficient primary care. However, this trend is gradually coming to a halt with an increased cognition by the policy makers about the imperative role played by preventive public health. This paradigm shift will be instrumental in influencing the success of Measure up campaign as a profound initiative aiming at encouraging members of the Australian population to make and sustain behavioral changes, such as healthier eating habits and heightened physical activities towards levels which are medically recommended. This is more inclined to preventive as opposed to curative public health policies. Nonetheless, it is imperative to note that the more contemporary change towards increased urbanization is likely to affect the success of the measure up campaign. In a generic perspective, Popkin, Horton, and Kim (2001) cited that in instances where populations are confronted by enormous technological and social transformations with urbanization as the chief component, the food supply patterns and thus diets, with other associated factors change spills over to change the disease patterns in different populations. This is evidenced in countries which are contemporarily considered as economically developed, for instance, the period between sixteenth and eighteenth centuries saw the transition from agrarian to industrial revolutions in Britain. Despite the fact that Australia has reached this stage, the dynamics in social set-up as well as technological orientations is bound to change the chronic disease patterns in foreseeable future which will also affect the success of the measure up campaign. On a more contemporary perspective, an increased trend towards a holistic approach in addressing the maze of chronic diseases in Australia is bound to inform the Measure up campaign. This is best epitomized the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (ACDPA) which is a partnership of five NGOs focusing on health. These organizations are working collaboratively in the prevention of chronic diseases. This is with extensive emphasis on the common risk factors of sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, overweight and obesity. With ACPDA strongly supporting a preventive approach in the minimization of the burden of these diseases, this is bound to be a major boost to the eventual success of Measure up campaign which has practically similar objective of using a preventive approach in regard to physical activities and diet as a key strategy in reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases Nonetheless, it is imperative to note that there is need of a more proactive approach in the popularization of this health campaign, which necessitates incorporation of more stakeholders for the greater success to be achieved. The following figure shows the overall action taken as a result of the Measure up campaign in Australia. Figure 1.1: Action taken as a result of seeing the Measure up campaign Source: Department of Health and Ageing (2010) Subgroups in the measure up campaign This campaign has been accredited for incorporating and addressing the needs of subgroups in the Australian population, for instance the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. According to Measure up Website (2010), majority of the people in this subgroup are becoming more obese and overweight resulting in increased risk to chronic diseases like diabetes, with around 6 out of 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being reported to be currently overweight or obese. The comparison of the mortality rates between the Aboriginal and non-aboriginal populations are shown below. Figure 1.2: Mortality rates for the leading cause of death among Aboriginal against non-Aboriginal populations. Source: Government of South Australia (2009) In regard to the social determinants of health among members of this sub-group, Thomas et al (2006) noted that the gradual enhancement in the overall access to healthcare services has posed massive socio-economic and political transformations for the indigenous populations in the northern territory since the political struggles in the 1960s. On the other hand, the changing experiences on social exclusion and racism which have happened concurrently with the political changes, coupled with enhancements in absolute incomes and educational outcomes have all played a major role in the reduction of mortality from all diseases. Against this background, the general guidelines in the Measure up campaign which encourage people to engage in diverse physical activities as well as eating healthy food which is low in fats, sugar and high in fibre are bound to help these subgroups to reduce the risk of chronic diseases which will in turn culminate in minimized expenditure in treating and managing these conditions which chiefly emanate from poor eating habits as well as adopting sedentary lifestyles. As previously mentioned, the measure up campaign target 45-60 year olds who are likely to either having being diagnosed with the chronic diseases or are living through the corollaries of an unhealthy lifestyle. According to the Western Australia Department of Health (2004), the proportion of population aged 65 years and above was projected to grow from 11.2% in 2001 to 13.9% by 2016. Against this background, the measure up campaign addresses the needs of this subgroup which is in heightened risk of being diagnosed with chronic diseases. This initiative considers the cultural orientation of the different subgroups in its approach, for instance, the eating habits and lifestyles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Thus, the strategic approach of this initiative in regard to cultural sensitivity is bound to influence its acceptance and eventual sustainability among members of this subgroup. Success of similar strategy in other populations As previously mentioned, other regions in the world, for instance, Toronto have embraced diverse strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases in a similar approach as embedded in the measure up campaign. These includes embracing more physical activities like walking and driving as opposed to driving, as well as changing eating habits which has shaped the policy priorities in these countries and eventually culminated in elevated success in minimization of chronic diseases prevalence in these regions. This is best exemplified by Pucher and Dijkstra (2003) who identified six categories of policies that have been predominant in Netherlands and Germany which have been fundamental in making cycling and walking both safe and attractive alternatives to driving. These are making urban design sensitive to the needs of non-motorists, stringent restriction of motor vehicles in the cities, exclusive traffic regulations enforcement protecting bicyclists and pedestrians, better facilities for walking and cycling, traffic calming of residential neighborhoods and enhanced traffic education for both the motorists and non-motorists. In Canada, the participACTION campaign was an innovative health campaign that promoted increased physical activities among members of the Canadian population for over three decades. Launched in 1971, this campaign aimed at heightening the awareness level on the merits of active lifestyles as well as developing a supportive environment for physical activities. ParticipACTION enjoyed widespread publicity and eventual success in meeting these objectives (Spence, et. al, 2009). This can be projected to be a similar case with the future of the measure up campaign. Feasibility of the measure up strategy There is immense feasibility of offering the measure up strategy among members of the Australian population. Firstly, the expenditure associated with the formulation and implementation of this initiative is rationalized by the number of cases of chronic diseases which are bound to be avoided in the long-run and the negative effects of these diseases on the national labor index. In addition, the costs associated with hospitalization will be reduced as well as the overall strain on the medical facilities in Australia as a result of the increased prevalence of these diseases. On the other hand, due to the holistic approach of this initiative, it is bound to experience extensive support from diverse health related agencies and non-governmental organizations which will increase its acceptance among the Australian population as well as its long-term sustainability. In response to opposing views about the viability of this initiative, evidence from preceding discourses has pointed to the fact that increasing cases of chronic illnesses are bound to affect the general production of the Australian population which has adverse effects on the gross domestic product (GDP). With the measure up campaign being a profound approach to this paradox, it is thus apparent that its eventual success will produce favorable impacts on the national economy as well as elevating life expectancy in Australia. Conclusion From the above discourse, it is apparent that the Measure campaign is an integral cog in the reduction of overall chronic diseases cases in Australia through promotion of better diets as well as active lifestyles. In this regard, this health strategy ought to be continued in the areas where it is widely embraced as well as being popularized in other areas based on the diverse positive impacts that they pose on human population. This includes but not limited to reducing prevalence of some diseases like obesity and heart diseases. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that there is an inherent need for increased collaboration between the stakeholders in this campaign, if at all it is to experience more success and long-term sustainability. The eventual success of this campaign will make it replicable in other regions outside the jurisdiction of Australia in solving contemporary health impediments associated with chronic diseases which are being experienced in diverse regions at the global scale. This will be key in enhancing the health status of the Australian population, amid dynamics in the health sector. References Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008). National Health Survey 2007-2008. Canberra: ABS Bellew, B. (2008). Primary Prevention of Chronic Disease in Australia through Interventions in the Workplace Setting: A Rapid Review. Haymarket: Sax Institute. Better Health Channel (2011).Walking for good health. Retrieved July 16, 2012 from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcpdf.nsf/ByPDF/Walking_for_good_health/$File/Walking_for_good_health.pdf Cavill, N. &Davis, A., (2007). Cycling and health: What's the evidence? Cycling England, UK Department of Transportation (Report). Department of Health and Ageing (2010). Evaluation of the Australian Better Health Initiative Measure Up Social Marketing CampaignPhase 1. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing Duckett, S.J. (2008). The Australian health care system: reform, repair or replace?. Australian Health Review, 32(2), 322-339. Government of South Australia (2009). Chronic disease action plan for South Australia. Adelaide: Government of South Australia Mathers, C., Vos, T, & Stevenson, C. (1999). The Burden of Disease and Injury in Australia. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Measure up website (2010). Retrieved July 16, 2012 from http://www.measureup.gov.au/internet/abhi/publishing.nsf/Content/home Popkin, B., Horton, S., &Kim, S. (2001). The Nutritional Transition and Diet-related Chronic Diseases in Asia: Implications for Prevention. Washington D.C: International Food Policy Research Institute. Pucher J, Dijkstra L (2003). Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: lessons from The Netherlands and Germany. American Journal of Public Health, 93(9), 1509–1516. RACGP National Standing Committee (2006). The role of general practice inprevention and health promotion. South Melbourne: The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Roberts, I., Owen, H., Lamb P., & MacDougall, C. (1996). Pedalling Health: Health Benefits of a Modal Transport Shift. Retrieved July 16, 2012 from http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/docs/cyhealth.pdf Spence, J. C., et. al, 2009. ParticipACTION: Awareness of the participACTION campaign among Canadian adults - Examining the knowledge gap hypothesis and a hierarchy-of-effects model. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6 (85), 1-9 Thomas, D.P. et al (2006). Long-term trends in Indigenous deaths from chronic diseases in the Northern Territory: a foot on the brake, a foot on the accelerator. Medical Journal of Australia, 185(3), 145-149. Toronto Public Health (April, 2012). Road to Health: Improving Walking and Cycling in Toronto. Retrieved July 16, 2012 from http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/roadtohealth.pdf Western Australia Department of Health (2004). A Healthy Future for Western Australians: Report of the Health Reform Committee. Perth: Western Australia Department of Health Wolff J. L, Starfield, B., &Anderson G. (2002). Prevalence, Expenditures, and Complications of Multiple Chronic Conditions in the Elderly. Archives of Internal Medicine, 162(20), 2269-2276. Read More

This is based on the rationale that the behaviors of the parents have a high likelihood of influencing the lifestyle behaviors of the children. On the other hand, the secondary target of this campaign is the 45-60 year olds who are likely to either having being diagnosed with the chronic diseases or are living through the corollaries of an unhealthy lifestyle. This campaign had both short and long-term objectives. In regard to the short-term objectives, this campaign aims at heightening the awareness on the close linkage between lifestyle risk factors like unhealthy weight, poor nutrition and physical inactivity and chronic diseases.

In addition, the campaign seeks to increase the appreciation of why the changes in lifestyle should be an exigent priority in Australian healthcare policies (Measure up campaign website, 2010) In regard to the long-term objectives, Measure up campaign aims at inspiring members of the Australian population to make and sustain behavioral changes, such as healthier eating habits and heightened physical activities towards levels which are medically recommended. In doing this, they are bound to make substantial contribution towards morbidity and mortality minimization as a result of chronic diseases related to lifestyle among adults in Australia (Measure up campaign website, 2010).

This can be perceived as a response to a National Health Survey 2007-2008 which revealed that 61% of the adults in Australia were overweight or in worse cases, obese (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008). The measure up campaign is concurrent with the Australian national health priority areas on diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases among others. In this regard, this campaign aims at reducing the illness burden of these diseases on the Australian healthcare system. The following figure shows the burden of disease in South Australia 2001-2003.

Figure 1.0: Burden of disease in South Australia 2001-2003 Source: Government of South Australia (2009) Arguing for the continuation of the Measure up campaign Despite the heightened expenditure on this campaign, majority of the proponents have determined that the outcomes of this strategy have massive merits in reducing the disease burden in Australia, the level of mortality among members of the Australian population as well as reduced cases of hospitalization which continue to strain the healthcare system in the country.

This is supported by Wolff and Anderson (2002) who determined that the generic occurrences of multiple chronic diseases has a close association with a slump in diverse health outcomes which includes but not limited to mortality, psychological distress, elevated hospitalization, quality of life as well as utility of healthcare resources. Against this backdrop, the subsequent analysis will focus on the core tenets of the measure up campaign aimed at reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases among members of the Australian population as a means of rationalizing its continuation.

Physical activities This encompasses both rigorous activities like sports and cycling and moderate physical activities like walking. According to Bellew (2008), a physical activity controlled trial conducted in Japan in 2008 revealed that heightened awareness of the merits of physical activities which utilized health promotion campaigns and environmental rearrangement, primarily targeting walking appeared to have posed diverse positive impacts and changes in serum HDL-cholesterol in the participants.

On the other hand, Toronto among other cities have been in the forefront in the adoption of policies that have been key in ensuring that cycling and walking are given significant consideration in the land use, facility and roadway planning (Toronto Public Health, 2012). As previously mentioned, there is a robust body of research in the contemporary world which has supported the link between regular physical activity and reduced prevalence of chronic diseases. The instigation of studies on this subject emerged as early as 1950s whereby it was found out that the reported cases of heart diseases among bus conductors who were occupationally physically active were far lower than among the bus drivers who were occupationally sedentary despite these two parties sharing similar occupational background (Cavill & Davis, 2007).

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