Elective surgery waitlist (ESWL) resources project

• Reach:

  NT

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

Under stage two of the Elective surgery waiting list reduction plan 2008, the Australian Government provided funds to the Northern Territory (NT) for development of educational resources to improve access and uptake of elective surgery.

The NT Department of Health agreed to develop communication tools to assist Indigenous Territorians understand the elective surgery process and improve timely access to surgical services. An Aboriginal Liaison Officer undertook outreach visits to remote Aboriginal communities with the highest 'no show' rate to determine barriers and enabling factors for Indigenous people needing to access elective surgery.

Three key components were identified as gaps and these were:

1. promotional material about the mechanism of elective surgery
2. communication about the elective surgery process
3. information about being in hospital.

A discussion paper was developed based on the information collected from the community visits and resources were developed based on those findings. The resources were bundled as a kit, and 200 kits were developed. Each kit included:

• a DVD entitled Waiting - going to hospital - coming home strong: the elective surgery story, an educational tool for Aboriginal patients prior to coming into hospital (in 11 Northern Territory languages)
• a DVD entitled Looking from a new perspective to create a brighter future: a guide for health professionals working with Aboriginal patients
• a flip chart entitled The elective surgery story, a guide for health professionals working with Aboriginal patients
• a portable DVD player.

The Elective surgery waitlist (ESWL) resources project intended that patients would:

• gain a clearer understanding of what elective surgery is
• better understand how the patient accommodation scheme works
• understand who will be able to assist them through the process when they get to hospital
• be better prepared to provide informed consent
• have increased compliance rates with preoperative preparation
• be less inclined to "take own leave".

The ESWL project intended that health care providers would:

• understand the intent and purpose of the resource
• improve their knowledge on the content of the elective surgery story
• improve their understanding of the cultural needs of the clients undertaking elective surgery
• actively seek to use the resource as a tool for sharing knowledge and information.

The 10 Indigenous languages that the Waiting - going to hospital - coming home strong DVD was produced in are:

• Barkley region: Waramungu, Gurindji
• Central region: Pitjantjatjara, Arrente, Warlpiri
• Top end region: Burrada, Djambarrpuyngu, Murrinh-patha
• Groote Eylandt region: Anindilyakwa, Kriol

A project plan was developed to oversee the implementation of the ESWL resources to ensure thorough distribution throughout the five NT hospitals, as well as the remote sector including Aboriginal Medical Services and health boards. The plan included information on:

• dissemination of the packages across the NT hospital network and remote communities
• handover of resources including the sharing of knowledge and information that pertains to the use of the resource
• assistance to hospitals and remote staff to develop a sustainable approach to the use of the resources.

An evaluation of the project will be conducted.

For online access to the DVD content that is part of this project, see links below.

Abstract adapted from NT Department of Health

Contacts

Sue Stewart
Senior Policy Advisor
Acute Care Policy and Service Development
Acute Care
Northern Territory Department of Health
Level 2
87 Mitchell Street
Darwin NT 0800
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 0811
Ph: (08) 8999 2473
Fax: (08) 8999 2439
Email: suzanne.stewart@nt.gov.au

Related publications

Elective surgery waitlist resource kit (2011)

Northern Territory Department of Health

This resource kit is intended to improve access and uptake of elective surgery amongst Indigenous people, particularly those in the Northern Territory (NT). The kit was produced by the NT Department of Health with funding from the Australian Government under stage two of the Elective surgery waiting list reduction plan 2008.

This kit can be used to help Indigenous patients to:

• gain a clearer understanding of what elective surgery is
• better understand how the patient accommodation scheme works
• understand who will be able to assist them through the process when they get to hospital
• be better prepared to provide informed consent
• have increased compliance rates with preoperative preparation
• be less inclined to "take own leave".

The kit can also be used to help health care providers to:

• improve their own knowledge on the content of the elective surgery story
• improve their own understanding of the cultural needs of patients undertaking elective surgery
• share knowledge and information with Indigenous patients.

Each kit contains:

• a DVD entitled Waiting - going to hospital - coming home strong: the elective surgery story, an educational tool for Aboriginal patients prior to coming into hospital (in 11 Northern Territory languages)
• a DVD entitled Looking from a new perspective to create a brighter future: a guide for health professionals working with Aboriginal patients
• a flip chart entitled The elective surgery story, a guide for health professionals working with Aboriginal patients.

The patient DVDs are produced in English and 10 Indigenous languages.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

• Links
• View website: Department of Health, Northern Territory

Links

• View information: Department of Health and Ageing's Elective surgery waiting list (ESWL) reduction plan
• View information: Healthy Territory newsletter - launch of ESWL DVDs
• View website: Northern Territory Department of Health