Positive Ageing: A Chronic Disease Self Management (CDSM) Peer Education Program for People from CALD Backgrounds Presented by Ms Betty Haralambous National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)

Project Team and Acknowledgements Irene Blackberry 1, Betty Haralambous 1, Xiaoping Lin 1, Paul Jeffery 1, Jean Tinney 1, Pauline Galvin 1, Nicolas Cortes 1, Christine Wilding 2, Christine Walker 3, Briony Dow 1 1 National Ageing Research Institute, 2 Council on the Ageing Victoria, 3 Chronic Illness Alliance Acknowledgements: Department of Health and Ageing through the ‘Sharing Health Care Initiative’ Project Working Group members Peer educators and participants North Yarra Community Health Centre and Victorian Arabic Social Services

Project Aims To expand the range of chronic disease self management (CDSM) interventions for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds; and To build an evidence-based CDSM program for harder-to-reach populations.

Rationale Target groups associated with socio economic disadvantage/social isolation > increased risk of chronic disease lifestyle risk factors Less access to health promotion services > later diagnosis Health perceived in the context of stress factors in target group Reported that a viable way to improve health is to empower people to take control over their lives Self management programs have been found to enhance sense of self control

Definition of Chronic Disease Self Management Illness management skills are learned and behaviour is self-directed Motivation and self management are important determinants Social environment can support or impede self- care Monitoring and responding to change …… improves adaptation to illness (Von Korff, Gruman, Schaefer, Curry, & Wagner,1997)

Method Literature review, Consultation focus groups, Develop program and peer educators training implemented, Baseline assessments (questionnaires and physical measures), Process evaluation, Follow-up assessment, and Evaluation focus groups.

Method Pre and post design used to develop, implement and evaluate a culturally appropriate chronic disease self management peer education program 3 groups of older people - Vietnamese (1 group; n=20) and Arabic (2 groups; n=35) Peer educators recruited to run the program (2 Vietnamese; 3 Arabic)

Baseline and follow up assessments Physical measurements: Blood pressure, Body Mass Index, waist and hip circumferences; Physical activity: uptake, frequency and intensity using the National Physical Activity Guidelines tool; Nutrition: 3-day food diary; Social network.

The Positive Ageing Program The program consisted of: Module 1: Introduction Module 2: Physical Health Module 3: Nutrition Module 4: Pain Management Module 5: Mental Health Module 6: Social Health Module 7: Spiritual Health Module 8: Where to from here