Fortnightly Activity Posts

Activity 6

Why I want to incorporate evaluation into my professional practice

• To determine the success and effectiveness of a project – an evaluation is useful throughout a project as it can identify flaws and weaknesses in the project design which will result in an improved project implementation and design.
• For this project a needs assessment should be performed during the planning and research phase of a project as it allows researchers to determine whether or not the project will be effective at certain locations and organisations.
• A small pilot study for this project will be performed by the UQ research staff to determine whether or not this project can operate as planned.
• QuIHN will perform an outcome evaluation at the end of each week to ensure the project is achieving its objectives.

Activity 7

Select 2 interventions – discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy

1. Health education and skills development
   1. Hepatitis C information and resources
   2. Hepatitis C Tests
   3. Hepatitis C Treatment options – Old and New
   4. Safe injecting/overdose prevention/harm reduction

Strengths – Individual is educated on Hepatitis C, the tests available and the new treatment used. Clients are also given harm reduction information

Weaknesses – Behaviour change is unlikely if this form of intervention is used on its own.

 

2. Screening and individual risk assessment
   1. Full mental health assessment
   2. Referral to health professionals

Strengths – An assessment will enable the client to understand their current health status. Patients are referred directly to health professionals for further assessment and treatment

Weaknesses – Scare level may be too high – clients may not be able to handle the news. The clients may not see that they have an issue so no change would occur.

As this test is only open to injecting drug users who have been found by (reference) to be more likely to be affected by a mental illness.

Activity 8

Aggregated score total = 157

Checklist score 127-175

Definition: A partnership based on genuine collaboration has been established. The challenge is to maintain its impetus and build on the current success.

A checklist like this allows the individuals in a project to become aware of current and potential issues relating to partnerships. By becoming aware of such issues individuals can act and resolve such issues so a genuine collaboration can be established and maintained.

Activity 9

Highlights

There were many highlights and challenges that I experienced whilst on placement at QuIHN. The following are dot points which will be discussed further in my reflective essay.

• Feeling of accomplishment
• Be able to apply theoretical knowledge to practice
• Learning the ins and outs f the public health industry
• Meeting and creating connections and relationships with health professionals from all sectors and expertises
• Confirmation of interests and desires

Challenges

• Working with our stakeholders and coming to a mutual agreement on issues
• Working with clients who are easily aggrevated
• Working in crisis situations
• Making and learning from mistakes
• Challenging not only the beliefs and views of others but also my own
• Maintaining a high level of empathy for all clients and knowing when I should take a break and reboot
• Accepting that change in a client is not immediate and sometimes will never occur
• Being non-judgemental
• Understanding a client’s traumatic event that I have never experienced

New project at QuIHN

Hi everyone,

The Health Survey officially finished at QuIHN last week and it was a success! We interviewed over 150 clients and were able to provide vital interventions and referrals to about 75% of them. I have been placed onto a new project where I am to develop my own presentation on Hepatitis B to present to clients at QuIHN. Been quite busy preparing for end of semester assessments and have been starting to apply for jobs. It is unreal that we are finishing our degree in under 2 months (if I pass everything). If anyone living in Brisbane is interested there are several free government funded training sessions focusing on alcohol and drugs at the Biala Health Clinic this term. Be quick as spots fill up fast!

Cheers,

Michael

Reflection

Hi everyone,

It has definitely been a while since I have posted on this blog. Here is my attempt at reflecting my last couple months as QuIHN.

For the past 2 months I have only had about 7 days where I wasn’t working or attending placement so I really have not had much time to breathe. I actually reached my 240 hours of placement about a month ago but I still try to attend placement as much as I can as I enjoy it so much. I am currently working on a project called the Client Health Survey where we interview clients about their general health, injecting use, drug use and mental health. A lot of the questions in the survey as quite sensitive and bold so depending on the answers I would need to implement some form of intervention or referral. I have learnt so much from my placement and am truly grateful I was given the chance to go to QuIHN. My practical experience has really helped me cement my passion for the alcohol and drug sector.

In the past couple months I have also completed a couple training sessions. One of them was the mental health first aid which is offered for free by the university. This course has been very useful and relevant to my placement and I highly recommend it. Mental health has affected over half of the population and is an issue that needs to be considered in so many aspects of health. The course really helped me breakdown my own stigma I had of mental health and ever since I completed it I have had to use skills and tools I learnt from the training on several occasions – in and out of placement. I also attended training called the;’family drug support training run by the FDS. I never realised the impact drug use could have on the support network of the drug user.

Wow it is 3 am so I might continue this when I have time again.

Michael

Blog Activities – long over due

Activity 2

The project I am currently working on at QuIHN is called the Hepatitis B Rapid Testing. The purpose of this testing is to provide a less invasive and quick method to test for Hepatitis B. There is a 99% sensitivity and a 96% specificity for this method of testing which means that it isn’t 100% accurate. Therefore no matter what the result is we have to refer them on to our GP for further testing. There are doubts about the effectiveness of this project in a clinic such as QuIHN as many of our clients have been using our services for many years not and already have had a recent blood test. This type of project would be more suitable in a clinic that specialises in Hepatitis B where their services are targeted to the younger population. I am currently in my training phase for this project as I will have to do both the pre and post counselling as well as the testing itself. It is very important that our clients receive pre and post counselling for this testing as they need to be prepared and well informed about the possible results. Three individuals that could serve on a planning committee for this project would be a general practitioner, a project coordinator and a hepatologist. A general practitioner (preferably a GP who will be involved in the project) would be required on a planning committee for this project as they will be involved in the process after the initial testing. The GP will provide any further testing needed for the client. A project coordinator will be required on the planning committee so they can structure the project to fit their organisation and their local community. A hepatologist (if available) would be ideal in a planning committee for this project to provide the necessary information required for the client about liver diseases such as treatment options, symptoms, options and up to date information.

Activity 3

Links to needs assessments

http://ruralhealthworks.org/wp-content/files/2-CHNA-Toolkit-Text-and-All-Appendices-May-2012.pdf

https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/global-network/global-health-toolkits/needs-assessment.pdf

http://community-wealth.org/content/community-health-needs-assessment-chna-toolkit

A needs assessment would have been beneficial for this project during the initial stages to assess its effectiveness in the community that surrounds QuIHN. From a couple discussions with my direct leader it has been quite obvious that this project is not effective in this community and we are seeing if we can transfer our supplies to a clinic in Fortitude Valley which has a greater demand for this type of testing.

Activity 4
One goal that I have set for my health promotion project (rapid testing Hepatitis B) is to provide participating clients with a clear, understanding and non-judgemental testing experience.

3 Objectives

1. Develop a clear and understanding pre-counselling for the rapid testing.
2. Implement an accurate, non-invasive and quick Hepatitis B rapid testing
3. Provide appropriate intervention options

The first two objectives can be measured through a feedback form or quick survey at the end of the testing. The last objective can be measured through a tally sheet showing how often such interventions were used.

NOTE:  At this time we have decided to send our testing supplies to a clinic in Fortitude Valley as these tests have not been effective at QuIHN. The other clinic specialises in Hepatitis B and have been having a higher use of these rapid testing.

My new project that I have been assigned to is called the Client Health Survey. This survey has been created by UQ St Lucia and asks clients about their general health, injecting use and Hepatitis C history. Throughout the interview we ask questions that are quite sensitive and personal and depending on the responses given certain interventions can be implemented. These interventions include safe injecting, risky behaviours, blood borne viruses (mainly Hepatitis C), treatment and testing options for Hepatitis C and possible referrals to our GPs, nurses or counsellors for professional help.

I left my other blog activities saved on my computer at placement and will upload them when i go in next.

Reflection goals

Hi everyone,

I am still feel like I am running a marathon with this term. In between work, placement and uni assessments I was finally able to take a day off to spend it at Byron Bay which was amazing.

When I finish my end of term assessments I plan to write reflections on the following experiences I have gained from my placement:

• Training sessions at QuIHN and Biala and the webinars I have been involved in
• Homelessness Connect event
• Outreach Programs
• New Hepatitis C treatment
• New study conducted by UQ on the research and treatment QuIHN has and will complete on the new Hepatitis C treatment
• NSP
• Networking
• Hepatitis B Rapid Testing Project

Unfortunately as the other student that is working on the project with me was ill last week I am unable to start this project until next week as tomorrow I have the homelessness connect event.

I will also be involved in the outreach program QuIHN operates in Redcliffe and Caboolture. I am still unsure about the details but these outreach programs are meant to provide the basic health services that QuIHN offers to individuals in these communities. I am also pushing to have an outreach mobile NSP run regularly for individuals who live in vulnerable ‘small’ communities who may not have access to an NSP. Many NSPs in the outskirts of Brisbane are not used often by the injecting community as the communities are so small it is easy for these individuals to lose their anonymity by attending these clinics.

Hopefully I will have time tomorrow night to post a small reflection on the homelessness connect event.

Michael

 

Weeks 2 to 4 reflection

Hi everyone,

After my first shift I feel that I have not been able to sit back and relax. Every single shift at QuIHN has involved something engaging such as a training session or workshop and my brain of mine is in overdrive!
I have had proper training on Hepatitis C, the new treatment available for HCV, training on overdose and Maloxone (overdose drug for opiods) and also training in the NSP austhorisation. The NSP authorisation involves the proper training required to operate an NSP. We learnt about the operations of the NSP, interventions such as vein care and education of safe injecting and actually learnt how to find a vein and safely inject.
Next week I will finally start my training for my project of the Hepatitis B rapid testing. Hopefully my training will be completed next week for it so I can finally start my project soon. The week after I will be participating in the Homeless Connect event, representing QuIHN and promoting the services available at QuIHN to the community. I will also be able to go around to the other organisations and learn about what services they may offer and possible referral services I can offer to my clients at QuIHN.
Hopefully I will find sometime at the end of this term to go into detail of all my training, the NSP and the various events I will be involved in.
I definitely underestimated how hectic this last year will be.

Oh also, I highly recommend everyone contacts their local NSP clinic/centre and do some volunteer work. It definitely gives you some unique experiences and you will gain special skills in this area.

Activity 1

This is a well overdue blog post I have been meaning to do.

I define health promotion by using the three levels of prevention –

1. Primary Prevention
2. Secondary Prevention
3. Tertiary Prevention

These three levels of prevention offer three different stages of intervention used to improve the health of an individual. These stages of prevention enables the individual to have control over their own health while taking into the account other factors such as social, economical and environmental in order to improve their over health and well being. Primary prevention involves an intervention method of preventing the onset of disease or action, for example through immunisation of Hepatitis B or education. Secondary prevention involves focus on the at-risk population through methods such as early screening for possible onset of disease. Tertiary prevention involves reducing harm associated with a factor in an individuals life.

Challenges in health promotion

1. Currently a big challenge in health promotion revolves around underdeveloped countries who are unable to keep up with the latest technology and advancements to practice health promotion.
2. Challenges are involved in helping the at risk communities. Issues regarding to ethics and culture are always present as many religions may involve unsafe practices but intervening can cause disrespect.
3. Large and powerful industries can create issues regarding policy making and intervention methods as these industries do not want to lose profits even if it is for improve health and well being. Since smoking has been proven to be unhealthy and directly related to lung cancer how are they still sold legally?
4. The lack of health literacy in society.

 

Day 1 – Induction

Wow.

Thank you to the nice and encouraging comments made by everyone on all my posts. I really will get around to all your blogs soon but the past month has been non-stop for me. Today was my first day I was able to give myself a day off from everything – from work, from placement and from uni. I really cannot forget to give myself sometime to rest as the longer I went without a break, the less productive I got. I hope everyone else is looking after themselves as well during this crazy last year.

Day 1 – Today I left home a little early and caught the bus to the city. Could not believe that I do not qualify for student fares so I paid $15 for the bus today. Unbelievable! Will have to invest in an adult go card as parking isn’t an option. My first few hours in QuIHN I was introduced to all the staff (who were all extremely friendly and welcoming and were all so passionate about their jobs), was given a formal induction into the clinic and had to fill out so much paper work. All this took approximately 3 hours as I had to go through and read a stack of paperwork before I was allowed to commence my training.

I spent the rest of the day in the Needle and Syringe Program learning how to operate the NSP, the various needles, syringes and swabs available to the public, how to process a client who uses the NSP and the various drugs that are used by the community of injecting drug users. I also had time to go through the paperwork for the Hepatitis B project I was going to run with the other student. The project involves us giving clients pre and post counselling on Hepatitis B, performing the tests and marketing the project to the community who may be at risk. The next couple weeks I most likely will do 1 day a week so I can adjust my workload and work out a time schedule that would be suitable not only for me and the other student but also our supervisor and the doctors on site.

I look forward to this Sunday as it is my next day off from work and placement so I can thoroughly go through everyone’s blogs and read about your experiences.

Michael

note: I am extremely happy for Tracey Alexandra for being able to secure an amazing placement with LivesLivedWell. So proud of you and cannot wait to hear about it all.

Placement found

Hi everyone,

Due to this wonderfully long weekend and the fact that I have found a placement for this course I am finally able to catch up on all the uni work from the past weeks. Hopefully by the end of this week I will have my blog activities up to date and more information on my placement. Currently all I know is that I will be mainly working on a project with another student that involves running a Hepatitis B rapid testing project. My first shift is on the 1st of April and my excitement levels are going through the roof!

Michael

Placement search coming to an end

Hi everyone,

The past week has been crazy as I try to balance work, uni and my placement search. I contacted every possible organisation, clinic and health centre in Brisbane and had an interview with QNADA and QuIHN. I did end up receiving the application and response from DrugArm but their program was quite intense with the majority of work as clinical. My meeting with QNADA went okay. They said that they were only able to offer me a placement if I started my own project. This opportunity would have been amazing, especially for the experience but due to time restraints this was not possible. They did however suggest that they would be able to place me into their various member organisation (organisations that I have applied for but have had difficulties following up) to experience the various areas within the drugs and alcohol sector. I am awaiting a reply from my course coordinator about this proposal. Today I had a meeting with QuIHN whom suggested that I was able to do my placement with them. They are currently running several projects that I could be involved with so if I am unable to pursue a placement with QNADA then QuiHN will be my next choice. I cannot wait to start placement soon and excited for what lies ahead.

Michael