Yarning with a remote Aboriginal community about the next steps for achieving healthy skin

Objective: Skin health is widely recognised as being important for overall good health and well-being, yet the burden of skin infections in remote Aboriginal communities remains high. This project aimed to explore if virtual support for skin health could be a strategy to reduce community barriers to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rebecca Dalton, Erin Victor, Hannah M.M. Thomas, Stephanie L. Enkel, Bep Uink, Rebecca Bennett, Slade Sibosado, Asha C. Bowen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020025000238
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Summary:Objective: Skin health is widely recognised as being important for overall good health and well-being, yet the burden of skin infections in remote Aboriginal communities remains high. This project aimed to explore if virtual support for skin health could be a strategy to reduce community barriers to skin health engagement. Methods: This study collected qualitative data using a yarning methodology within a participatory action research design. A community co-researcher who was intimately familiar with the Country, language, and community in which this study was based was employed to guide the research process. Results: The final dataset comprised of interviews with 21 participants. Three primary themes were identified including: Reach Further into the Community with Education and Skin Checks, Virtual Skin Health Support is not Preferred but Acceptable, and Environmental Health Cannot be Ignored. Conclusions: Participants provided several suggestions on improving health promotion messaging within community whilst emphasising the need for a stronger focus on environmental health. The employment of a community co-researcher was integral to informing the methodology. Implications for Public Health: This project provides further evidence of the significance of community engagement, inclusion and capacity building when conducting research in remote Aboriginal communities and the benefits of two-way learning as foundational to good research practices.
ISSN:1326-0200