Investigators: Frieda McLoughlin, Marianne Mullane, Rebecca Pavlos, Stephanie Enkel, John Jacky, Kristen White, Phillipa May, Rachael Donovan, Jonathan Carapetis and Asha Bowen
External collaborators: Bec Smith (WA Department of Health Country Health Service), Vicki O'Donnell (Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS)), Raymond Christophers (Nirrumbuk Aboriginal Corporation)
The aim of this project is to conduct a situational analysis of the skin health services and activities currently available for managing skin infections within the Kimberley. We aim to document specific skin treatment, prevention, environmental health and health promotion services and practices related to skin infection. This will also allow us to identify whether gaps in the above skin health activities exist, and if so, what and where are they?
By completing this situational analysis project, we will be able to produce and disseminate a report to Kimberley health service, community and research stakeholders, and this report can be used to inform the design of future skin control programs for the Kimberley region. In addition, it will form the baseline of data for a proposed future project – a skin disease control stepped-wedge, cluster randomised trial, “SToP: See, treat, prevent skin sores and scabies”.
This project provides the opportunity to deliver a report to Kimberley stakeholders that documents the current skin health management resources available, the strengths, and the gaps that need to be filled for designing a comprehensive skin disease control program.