Like many health problems in Australia, hearing loss and ear infections disproportionately affects rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and one Mount Isa-based woman is determined to do something about it.
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The rates of otitis media - otherwise known as middle ear infection - are reported at 50% of the population in remote communities and JCU Remote Pharmacy Academic Selina Taylor at the Centre for Rural and Remote Health in Mount Isa is helping address the issue through research.
"Ear disease and its impact on quality of life is an enormous burden. Hearing disruption in all people, particularly Indigenous populations, results in a loss of communicative ability, social disconnection, limited educational and employment opportunities, and high rates of incarceration," Ms Taylor said.
"I've had issues with hearing loss and ear infections. I know the battle people go through trying to get through the hurdles associated with accessing good-quality ear care."
Selina is undertaking a PhD research project through JCU to explore how the expanding scope of practice for the pharmacy profession in Australia could be used to address ear conditions.
"Expanded practice for rural community pharmacists is a topic close to home for me," she said.
"I've been in positions as a community pharmacist where I've had the skills and knowledge to do more for a patient but have been restricted by my scope of practice.
"In rural and remote communities, community pharmacists are a permanent workforce of highly trained health professionals with a passion for improving healthcare. These pharmacists are the backbone of rural health, and they are well-placed to expand the scope of practice and reduce disease."
Selina has designed and developed a study protocol in which community pharmacists were trained in ear examination and diagnostic procedures. Then, when a patient presented to their local community pharmacy with an ear complaint, the pharmacist could conduct an examination and follow a protocol to recommend either no treatment, a pharmacy product, or a direct referral to the GP.
"During the pilot, a third of the participants were indigenous, a third had already tried to see the GP but couldn't get an appointment. Half of them were planning on attending the emergency department," she said.
"After consultation 100% agreed that next time they had a complaint, they would attend the community pharmacy rather than the GP first.
"Our study has demonstrated the value of integrated referral pathways to GPs, the importance of immediate access to care and the high level of confidence between community pharmacies and their local communities."
From her research, Selina hopes similar models may be developed in consultation with rural and remote communities to improve access to health care and health outcomes. To date, she has had 11 papers accepted for publication and another under review. She is currently preparing her thesis for submission.
"There was a 'wow factor' with our first publication," she said.
"The impact of the study hit home when doing the follow-up phone calls with patients. Hearing how grateful they were for the service and how much of an impact being seen by the pharmacist had on their health was so rewarding."
Recently, Selina presented her work as part of 3-Minute Thesis (3MT), a competition in which PhD students and early career researchers condense years of research into a three minute, easy to understand presentation. Selina was the 3MT winner for JCU's College of Medicine and Dentistry and presented at a university-wide competition.
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