Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately represented in chronic respiratory diseases. Devastatingly, a mortality gap of 22 years exists between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians with bronchiectasis. Chronic wet cough is a predisposing marker of chronic disease, and if left untreated, can result in permanent lung damage. In many cases disease progression can be halted or even reversed when diagnosed and treated early.
In this one-hour virtual event, hear from our panel of experts on the evidence, strategies and considerations in chronic wet cough in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Dr Pamela Laird will discuss best practice identification and management, while Prof Maree Toombs will focus on enablers and barriers to better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with chronic wet cough.
Ask the panel your questions at registration, or live during the Q&A session, led by A/Prof Julie Marchant. The virtual event will be recorded and available on-demand for those unable to attend live.
Learning outcomes:
- Identify respiratory conditions most often mis/undiagnosed in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children presenting with chronic wet cough
- Describe the guideline-recommended approach to management of chronic wet cough, PBB, CSLD and bronchiectasis, including the importance of follow-up in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children hospitalised with chest infection
- Discuss enablers and barriers in addressing chronic wet cough
- Apply culturally secure practices in paediatric respiratory health settings
Speakers:
Dr Pamela Laird
Senior clinician research fellow BSc (physiotherapy) dist. PhD, Telethon Kids Institute/Perth Childrens Hospital
Dr Pamela Laird has worked in the paediatric respiratory field for 30 years in both the USA and Australia. Pamela is passionate about improving respiratory health outcomes for children through improving early symptom recognition and health seeking by families, and early and effective management by clinicians for chronic respiratory diseases, especially in First Nations children. The national clinical translation of Pamela’s research to date has resulted in the development, implementation, and evaluation of lung health literacy materials for First Nations families and online training modules for clinicians in providing culturally secure lung disease evaluation and management.
Prof Maree Toombs
Professor of Public Health, University of Sydney
Prof Maree Toombs is a Professor Public Health at The University of Sydney with over 20 years’ experience in teaching and developing curriculum with a First Nations perspective. She is also the past-Chair of Carbal Aboriginal Medical Services, a leading health facility servicing the Darling Downs region and was appointed a Professorial Fellow at the Menzies School ofHealth Research in 2021. Maree’s research focus is on mental health amongst First NationsAustralians and includes the development of culturally appropriate quality of life assessment tools for use with First Nation Australians.Maree is recognised nationally and internationally for her work in Indigenous health perspectives in medicine and her research efforts devoted to improving mental health and wellbeing for First Nations Australians, in particular, managing chronic physical illness and mental health including suicide intervention.
A/Prof Julie Marchant
Paediatric Respiratory Physician, Queensland University of Technology/Queensland Children’s Hospital
A/Prof Julie Marchant is a Paediatric Respiratory Physician at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and a research fellow (Queensland Children’s Hospital Foundation Early Career Fellowship) at the Centre for Children’s Health Research, Brisbane, Queensland. Her PhDstudies were critical in the building of the clinical definition of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in children. Her current research interests are childhood chronic wet cough, with particular focus on protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis in children. Julie is also a member of the Indigenous Respiratory Outreach Care (IROC) team who deliver specialist care to rural and remote settings throughout Queensland.
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