Chronic Diseases
ARDS undertakes Chronic Disease education in face-to-face community education sessions, on Yolŋu Radio and by producing educational DVDs.
On this page, you will find information about:
Chronic Disease
ARDS health education uses key foundational knowledge concepts to help Yolŋu understand chronic illness. Some of these fundamental concepts are:
- Blood continually circulates around our body DVD Available
- Food is classified into chemical groups called proteins, carbohydrates, fats and so on
- Food we eat is broken up into tiny pieces and moves from our intestine into our blood, which then carries it around our body
By building knowledge of diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases based on these concepts, the people are able to gain a deeper and more holistic understanding of cause and effect relating to chronic diseases.
Laynhapuy Homelands Community Education
ARDS health educators are training Laynhapuy Homelands health workers and educating patients and their communities in chronic diseases using. Topics include: stroke, heart attack, ear health, cancer and other health questions raised by communities. This project is funded by Laynhapuy Homelands Association.
ARDS also recently completed a DVD entitled “Circulation and Our Heart” In Yolŋu Matha with English subtitles, to help Aboriginal Health Workers and patients understand the fundamental biomedical knowledge relating to circulation and the structure and function of the heart (especially heart valves). Click here to purchase a copy
CLICK HERE to listen to audio education programs on chronic diseases.
CLICK HERE to read stories and case studies about ARDS health education.
Diabetes Education: ARDS model in practice
Hear Diabetes Audio Programs
What to educate about?
When first researching this topic, ARDS educators sat and talked with Yolŋu to find out what they were thinking about diabetes and chronic disease. All discussion was in the language of the people.
Discussions revealed a limited understanding of the:
- causes of diabetes. Many Yolŋu thought that diabetes is caused by white sugar alone, excluding all other forms of sugar.
- complications that result from vascular damage.
- concept that diabetes is a chronic disease that needs life long lifestyle interventions to prevent complications.
- role of medication. Some Yolŋu thought that diabetes medication was a cure for the disease, rather than a management tool.
ARDS diabetes education is designed to address these knowledge gaps.
The Diabetes Story: Discovery Education
The story progresses through four main areas:
1. The role of carbohydrates and fat in the diet
2.
Normal physiology of fat and carbohydrate use in the body and how this differs in a diabetic
3.
Diabetic complications
4.
Treatment and prevention
All education is in Yolŋu Matha to ensure comprehension and create real dialogue between participants. Yolŋu Matha is not the first language of the majority of our educators. This means that Yolŋu participants automatically become teachers as well as learners. They are the experts in their own language and worldview. This ensures genuine two- way education.
Education sessions typically take place sitting on the ground with butcher’s paper and coloured pens. Our educators write key terms and draw diagrams and pictures as the discussion happens. They are always checking for further knowledge gaps related to the biomedical story by monitoring people’s questions and comments. The emphasis in the education process is on investigating words and concepts that are not easily translatable from one language to another.
ARDS education gives Yolŋu access to information that takes account of specific language and worldview differences. When people have access to appropriate information, they can make informed decisions and create their own health interventions.
For more geneneral information on Diabetes, including information on types, causes,symptoms of diabetes, medications, and treatment, go to Diabetes Australia .
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