EAHSP: Evaluation of a Regional Healthy Skin Program in Remote Aboriginal Communities of Australia's Northern Territory

Sponsor

Menzies School of Health Research (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT00884728

Collaborator

University of Melbourne (Other), Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (Other), Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (Other)

2,329

Enrollment

Location

Duration (Months)

66.6

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a coordinated regional approach to healthy skin programs in six remote Aboriginal communities can demonstrate, not only a reduction in the burden of scabies and streptococcal skin sores, but also broad health benefits, including primary prevention of some chronic diseases that occur at particularly high rates in Australian Aboriginal communities.

The primary objectives of the Program are:

Demonstrate a reduction in scabies and skin sores on a regional basis
Demonstrate the broader public health effects of Healthy Skin Programs, particularly those relating to chronic diseases such as rheumatic fever and renal diseases
Build on the existing Indigenous capacity by assisting in the development of new knowledge and skills to improve the health and well being of Indigenous communities
Establish the feasibility of incorporating Healthy Skin Programs into existing health service delivery

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Scabies Impetigo Pyoderma Streptococcal Infections

Detailed Description

There are standard government recommendations for the conduct of healthy skin programs within the Northern Territory (NT), where the key component involves a single mass treatment for scabies of all residents in the region followed by regular monitoring of skin infections with treatment of individuals as new cases arise. The key features of the guidelines include:

Community planning and collaborative effort;
Development of local educational resources;
Single whole community treatment day for scabies with permethrin (5%);
Community "clean up" involving house cleaning, linen and rubbish collection;
Emphasis on housing functionality and "washing kids" to maintain low rates of skin sores; and
Regular monitoring of scabies and skin sores, usually in a target group such as children

Previous programs have been successful in controlling scabies and related skin infections in the NT but have been limited to single communities with varying levels of success. In collaboration with communities in the East Arnhem Region, we propose to conduct a coordinated Healthy Skin Program. By concentrating on one region, the project has an increased likelihood of success because reinfection due to mobility between communities will be minimised, and because the project will be recognised as a collaboration between multiple communities.

The program is structured into three distinct components:

Implementation of the program within the participating communities;
Evaluation of the program against specific outcomes; and
Integration of the program into routine service delivery.

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Actual Enrollment :

2329 participants

Observational Model:

Ecologic or Community

Time Perspective:

Prospective

Official Title:

East Arnhem Healthy Skin Project: A Regional Collaboration to Reduce Scabies, Skin Sores and Associated Chronic Diseases, Including Rheumatic Fever and Renal Disease, Among Australian Aboriginal Communities

Study Start Date :

Sep 1, 2004

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Aug 1, 2007

Actual Study Completion Date :

Aug 1, 2007

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Indigenous children aged <15 years Indigenous children aged <15 years within participating communities of the Northern Territory

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Reduced prevalence of scabies among children in the participating communities from 30% (expected prevalence pre-program) to <10% at least 2 years following the introduction of the program [2 years]
Reduced prevalence of skin sores among children in the participating communities from 50% (expected prevalence pre-program) to <25% at least 2 years following the introduction of the program [2 years]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Reduced severity of skin sores among children in the participating communities from 40% classified as moderate/severe (expected pre-program) to <15% classified as moderate/severe at least two years following the introduction of the program [2 years]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

N/A to 15 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

All children aged <15 years in the participating communities

Exclusion Criteria:

None

Contacts and Locations

Locations

	Site	City	State	Country	Postal Code
1	Menzies School of Health Research	Casuarina	Northern Territory	Australia	0811

Sponsors and Collaborators

Menzies School of Health Research
University of Melbourne
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health

Investigators

Principal Investigator: Ross M Andrews, PhD, Menzies School of Health Research
Principal Investigator: Jonathan R Carapetis, PhD, MBBS, Menzies School of Health Research
Principal Investigator: Bart Currie, MBBS, DTM&H, Menzies School of Health Research
Principal Investigator: Christine Connors, MBBS, Northern Territory Govermnent Department of Health and Families
Principal Investigator: Shelley Walton, PhD, Menzies School of Health Research
Principal Investigator: Colin J Parker, MBBS, Australasian College of Dermatologists