Ending rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: A systematic review of prevention programs in Australia

Article

Cai, Yumeng, Delaney, Lori J., Lynch, Debby, Cunninghame, Jacqueline, Takashima, Mari, Ullman, Amanda, Toombs, Maree, Martin, Antonella, Thompson, Kate, Maxwell, Karina, Moore, Jane, Kilgour, Catherine and Holland, Lorelle. 2025. "Ending rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: A systematic review of prevention programs in Australia ." First Nations Health and Wellbeing - The Lowitja Journal. 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fnhli.2024.100040
Article Title

Ending rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: A systematic review of prevention programs in Australia

Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsCai, Yumeng, Delaney, Lori J., Lynch, Debby, Cunninghame, Jacqueline, Takashima, Mari, Ullman, Amanda, Toombs, Maree, Martin, Antonella, Thompson, Kate, Maxwell, Karina, Moore, Jane, Kilgour, Catherine and Holland, Lorelle
Journal TitleFirst Nations Health and Wellbeing - The Lowitja Journal
Journal Citation3
Article Number100040
Number of Pages24
Year2025
PublisherElsevier
Place of PublicationNetherlands
ISSN2949-8406
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fnhli.2024.100040
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949840624000317
Abstract

Purpose
Australia has one of the highest incidences of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in the world, with a disproportionate disease burden on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This systematic review aimed to explore the effectiveness and cultural responsiveness of prevention programs to prevent, reduce and control RHD, to improve quality of life, and prioritise community engagement and empowerment.
Methods
A systematic review was conducted involving a comprehensive search of three databases (PubMed, Embase and CINAHL) and grey literature from Australian Indigenous websites and Google Scholar. Articles met inclusion criteria if they evaluated prevention programs, targeted ARF/RHD and centred Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. Data were extracted by three reviewers, and results were descriptively analysed. Study quality was appraised via the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Quality Appraisal Tool.
Main findings
Eleven peer reviewed articles were included. Prevention programs varied in their effectiveness and cultural responsiveness to reduce ARF and RHD. Overall, the studies scored higher for generalised methodological quality determined by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool than the measurement of cultural responsiveness via the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Quality Appraisal Tool. Research engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities addressed ways to improve screening strategies to identify ARF, awareness of RHD adherence to penicillin prophylaxis, community-led education and training, environmental health and community-centred traditional language to convey culturally responsive health messaging.
Principal conclusions
Further research is urgently needed in the provision of effective and culturally responsive prevention programs to reduce the incidence of ARF and RHD. Studies that centre Indigenous-led and community-based prevention programs that value self-determination, community agency and autonomy to advance holistic health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples offer promise in the elimination of ARF and RHD.

KeywordsAcute rheumatic fever; Rheumatic heart disease; Community-based programs; Decolonising paradigms; Indigenous health; Health equity
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 20204205. Nursing
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Queensland
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland
University of New South Wales
Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, Australia
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/zy1z6/ending-rheumatic-heart-disease-in-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-communities-a-systematic-review-of-prevention-programs-in-australia

Log in to edit

Download files

Published Version
1-s2.0-S2949840624000317-main.pdf
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

  • 2
    total views
  • 1
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Responsiveness of Non-invasive Continuous Cardiac Output Monitoring during the Valsalva manoeuvre.
Delaney, L., Bellomo, P.R. and MP, P.F.. "Responsiveness of Non-invasive Continuous Cardiac Output Monitoring during the Valsalva manoeuvre. " Clinical Nursing Research. 29 (2), pp. 127-132.
End-of-life care content in postgraduate critical care nursing programs: Structured telephone interviews to evaluate content-informing practice
Ranse, A.K., Delaney, L., Ranse, P.J., Coyer, P.F. and Yates, P.P.. "End-of-life care content in postgraduate critical care nursing programs: Structured telephone interviews to evaluate content-informing practice." Australian Critical Care. 33 (2), pp. 181-186.
Pressure injury prevention practice in Australian intensive care units: A national cross-sectional survey
Levido, A., Fulbrook, P.P., Barakat-Johnson, D.M., Campbell, D.J., Delaney, L., Latimer, D.S., M, D.R., Wynne, D.R., Doubrovsky, A. and Coyer, P.F.. "Pressure injury prevention practice in Australian intensive care units: A national cross-sectional survey." Australian Critical Care. 36 (2), pp. 186-194.
The accuracy of simple, feasible alternatives to polysomnography for assessing sleep in intensive care: An observational study
Delaney, L., Litton, E., Carol, D.H., Lopez, P.V. and MP, P.F.. "The accuracy of simple, feasible alternatives to polysomnography for assessing sleep in intensive care: An observational study." Australian Critical Care. 36 (3), pp. 361-369.
Nursing Student's Perception and Performance Using Rapid Cycle Intentional Simulation: A Quasi-Experiential Pilot Study.
Delaney, L., Tutticci, D.N., Sandra Johnston, A., Pauline Gillan, D., Theobald, A.K., Ramsbotham, A.J. and Currie, P.J.. "Nursing Student's Perception and Performance Using Rapid Cycle Intentional Simulation: A Quasi-Experiential Pilot Study." Clinical Simulation in Nursing. 80, pp. 35-45.
Impact of clinical care on patient sleep in the intensive care
Delaney, L.. 2025. "Impact of clinical care on patient sleep in the intensive care." Australian Critical Care. 38 (S1).
Privileging Indigenous ways of knowing: a systematic review of RHD prevention programs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Delaney, L., Holland, L, Thompson, K, Maxwell, K and Cai, E. 2025. Privileging Indigenous ways of knowing: a systematic review of RHD prevention programs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
A collaborative communities-of-practice methodology for environmental design research: A case study application in palliative care
Jonescu, Emil E., Farrell, Benjamin, Ramanayaka, Chamil Erik, Delaney, Lori, Litton, Edward, Uylaki, Talia J., Watts, Gareth, Brigham, Bella, Bellemore, Frances and Seah, Davinia. 2025. "A collaborative communities-of-practice methodology for environmental design research: A case study application in palliative care." Health Environments Research and Design Journal (HERD). https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867251365876
Sleep disturbance in ICU: A pathway to delirium.
Delaney, L.. 2025. "Sleep disturbance in ICU: A pathway to delirium. " Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. 90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2025.104138
Intensive Care Registered Nurses knowledge, attitudes and perspectives of caring for patients with mental health conditions: A scoping review
Wilson, Claire, Kilgour, Catherine and Delaney, Lori J.. 2025. "Intensive Care Registered Nurses knowledge, attitudes and perspectives of caring for patients with mental health conditions: A scoping review." Nurse Education Today. 147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106557
Midwifery and nursing honours programs in Australia and New Zealand: A scoping review of contemporary challenges and opportunities
Shipton, Emma V., Kearney, Lauren, Delaney,Lori and Kilgour, Catherine. 2025. "Midwifery and nursing honours programs in Australia and New Zealand: A scoping review of contemporary challenges and opportunities ." Women and Birth. 37 (5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101641
End-of-life care in postgraduate critical care nurse curricula: An evaluation of current content informing practice.
Delaney, L., Ranse, A.K., Ranse, J., Coyer, P.F. and Yates, P.. " End-of-life care in postgraduate critical care nurse curricula: An evaluation of current content informing practice. " Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society/Australian College of Critical Care Nursing Intensive Care Annual Scientific meeting 2024. Brisbane, Australia 10 - 12 Apr 2024 Elsevier.
Preventing pressure injuries in intensive care unit patients compared to non-intensive care unit patients: Is it any different?.
Coyer, P.F., Delaney, L. and Ingleman, D.J.. 2024. "Preventing pressure injuries in intensive care unit patients compared to non-intensive care unit patients: Is it any different?. " Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. 81.
Teaching nursing students to respond to patient deterioration using a deliberate practice mastery learning approach: A feasibility study
Sandra Johnston, A., Delaney, L., Pauline Gillan, D., Theobald, A.K., Ramsbotham, A.J. and Tutticci, D.N.. 2024. "Teaching nursing students to respond to patient deterioration using a deliberate practice mastery learning approach: A feasibility study." Teaching and Learning in Nursing. 19 (1), pp. E225-E228.
Mitigating intensive care unit noise: Design led modelling solution, calculated acoustic outcomes, and cost implications.
Delaney, L., Jonescu, E., Fareel, B., Erik, D.C., White, C. and Litton, E.. 2024. "Mitigating intensive care unit noise: Design led modelling solution, calculated acoustic outcomes, and cost implications. " Health Environments Research and Design Journal (HERD). 17 (3), pp. 220-238.
Simulation strategies to Develop Undergraduate Nurses skills to identify patient deterioration. A quasi-experimental study
Tutticci, Naomi, Johnston, Sandra, Gillan, Pauline, McEnroe, Georgia, Lesse, Ryan, Currie, Jane, Ramsbotham, Joanne, Theobald, Karen and Delaney, Lori. 2024. "Simulation strategies to Develop Undergraduate Nurses skills to identify patient deterioration. A quasi-experimental study." Clinical Simulation in Nursing. 91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2024.101534
Quality in Healthcare: Assessing What We Do
Kilgour, Catherine and Delaney, Lori. 2024. Quality in Healthcare: Assessing What We Do . Australia. University of Queensland.
Crying wolf, alarm safety and management in paediatrics: A scoping review
Cole, Roni, Roderick, Geraldine, Cheema, Osayed, Cunninghame, Jacqueline and Ullman, Amanda J.. 2024. "Crying wolf, alarm safety and management in paediatrics: A scoping review." Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16398
A quasi-experiential pilot study exploring the perception and performance of nursing students using a second-generation version of rapid cycle deliberate practice simulation
Tutticci, Naomi, Johnston, Sandra, Delaney, Lori, Gillan, Pauline, McEnroe, Georgina, Leese, Ryan, Ramsbotham, Joanne, Currie, Jane and Theobald, Karen. 2023. "A quasi-experiential pilot study exploring the perception and performance of nursing students using a second-generation version of rapid cycle deliberate practice simulation ." 19th National Nurse Education Conference (NNEC 2023). Gold Coast, Australia 07 - 09 Jun 2023 Australia.
Alcohol use in Australia: countering harm with healing
Holland, Lorelle, Reid, Natasha, Hewlett, Nicole, Toombs, Maree, Elisaraa, Tylissa, Thomson, Amy, Humphrey, Tracy and Smirnov, Andrew. 2023. "Alcohol use in Australia: countering harm with healing." The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100774
Does improving sleep for the critically ill reduce the incidence and duration of delirium? An evidence‐based review
Elliott, Rosalind and Delaney, Lori. 2023. "Does improving sleep for the critically ill reduce the incidence and duration of delirium? An evidence‐based review." Nursing in Critical Care. 28 (5), pp. 738-743. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12906
Factors influencing nursing students' ability to recognise and respond to simulated patient deterioration: A scoping review
Pauline Gillan, D., Delaney, L., Tutticci, D.N. and Sandra Johnston, A.. 2022. "Factors influencing nursing students' ability to recognise and respond to simulated patient deterioration: A scoping review." Nurse Education in Practice. 62. https://doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103350
The feasibility and reliability of actigraphy to monitor sleep in intensive care patients: an observational study
Delaney, L., Litton, E., Melehan, D.K., Carol, D.H., Lopez, P.V. and MP, P.F.. 2021. "The feasibility and reliability of actigraphy to monitor sleep in intensive care patients: an observational study." Critical Care. 25 (1). https://doi.org/doi:10.1186/s13054-020-03447-8.
The Nexus Between Sleep Disturbance and Delirium Among Intensive Care Patients
Delaney, L., Litton, E. and MP, P.F.. 2021. "The Nexus Between Sleep Disturbance and Delirium Among Intensive Care Patients." Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America. 33 (2), pp. 155-171.
Prevention of Occlusion of cEnTral lInes for Children with cancer: An implementation study
Ullman, Amanda J., Condon, Paula, Edwards, Rachel, Gibson, Victoria, Takashima, Mari, Schults, Jessica, Dean, Anna, Cattanach, Paula, Nicholls, Wayne, Osborne, Sonya, Rickard, Claire M., Cooke, Marie and Kleidon, Tricia. 2020. "Prevention of Occlusion of cEnTral lInes for Children with cancer: An implementation study." Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 56 (12), pp. 1875-1884. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.15067
Exploring the application of mixed reality in Nurse education
Frost, P.J., Delaney, L. and Fitzgerald, P.R.. 2020. "Exploring the application of mixed reality in Nurse education." BMJ Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning. 6 (4), pp. 214-219.
Nurse-Led Randomized Controlled Trials in the Perioperative Setting: A Scoping Review
Munday, A.J., Delaney, L., Higgins, D.N., Hughes, D.J., Griffin, P.B., Ingleman, D.J., Keogh, P.S. and Coyer, P.F.. 2020. "Nurse-Led Randomized Controlled Trials in the Perioperative Setting: A Scoping Review." Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 13, pp. 647-660.
The effectiveness of noise interventions in the ICU
Delaney, L., Litton, E. and van Haren , F.. 2019. "The effectiveness of noise interventions in the ICU." Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology. 32 (2), pp. 144-149.
Rights of the Critically Ill Patient: Position Statement of the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses
Yeager, S., Delaney, L., Lopez, P.V. and Northam, P.H.. 2019. "Rights of the Critically Ill Patient: Position Statement of the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses." Connect: The World of Critical Care Nursing. 13 (2), pp. 58-70.
Investigating the application of motion accelerometers as a sleep monitoring technique and the clinical burden of the intensive care environment on sleep quality
Delaney, L., Currie MJ, Huang HCC, Litton E and Wibrow B. 2018. "Investigating the application of motion accelerometers as a sleep monitoring technique and the clinical burden of the intensive care environment on sleep quality." BMJ Open. 8 (1).
Patient-centred care as an approach to improving health care in Australia
Delaney, L.. 2018. "Patient-centred care as an approach to improving health care in Australia." Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research. 25 (1), pp. 119-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2017.02.005
Nursing students’ experience in performing intimate clinical procedures via high fidelity Mask-Ed simulation
Delaney, L.. 2018. "Nursing students’ experience in performing intimate clinical procedures via high fidelity Mask-Ed simulation." BMJ Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning. 5 (2), p. 73. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjstel-2017-000293
“They can rest at home”: an observational study of patients’ quality of sleep in an Australian hospital.
Delaney, L., Currie, M., Carol, D.H., Lopez, P.V. and van Haren , F.. 2018. "“They can rest at home”: an observational study of patients’ quality of sleep in an Australian hospital." BMC Health Services Research. 18, pp. 1-9.