The Buddy System and the use of Visual-Based Learning Tools in Home Haemodialysis Training: Alternative Teaching Methods Addressing Indigenous Disadvantage in Literacy and Numeracy — Agentur Pty Ltd
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The Buddy System and the use of Visual-Based Learning Tools in Home Haemodialysis Training: Alternative Teaching Methods Addressing Indigenous Disadvantage in Literacy and Numeracy (189)

Emil Tabbada 1
  1. Central Australian Renal Services, Department of Health, Alice Springs, NT, Australia

Background:

There are approximately 279 patients in Central Australia receiving haemodialysis. Another 154 Chronic Kidney Disease clients have been identified as being ready for dialysis – 98% of which are Aboriginal clients. The Hospital is a 189 bed specialist teaching hospital situated in the Red Centre of Australia. The population in this area is dispersed over 1.6 million square kilometres, and this dispersion provides unique and rewarding challenges in the delivery of a range of comprehensive health services. The distance from homelands creates a major disadvantage and impacts on social, cultural and emotional wellbeing. An innovative solution and care pathway has been created to address this issue. The level of numeracy and literacy a patient has a profound impact on the success of a client training. The Central Australian Home Haemodialysis program has developed a curriculum that is heavily visual-based and thus accommodates clients who have limited numeracy and literacy skills.

Methods:

A case study will be presented to demonstrate some of the challenges of working in partnership with people to address their social determinants of health and facilitate engagement with health services. It will also demonstrate the effectiveness of visual-based learning tools used in home haemodialysis training. It will also be shown that a buddy system in home haemodialysis training can help in facilitating a client’s return to home community on the home haemodialysis program.

Results/Discussions:

The buddy system ensures that family members who have adequate numeracy and literacy can assist haemodialysis clients in their training and be an integral part in the client’s goal to return to country. The use of visual-based material can bolster the client’s learning of the technicalities of haemodialysis machine operation.

Conclusions/implications:

Eight clients have successfully completed home haemodialysis training because the buddy system was adopted for them and visual-based learning tools have been used throughout their training.

  1. Department of Health and Ageing (2012) Central Australia Renal Study – Final Report, Australia, Online ISBN: 987-1-74241-515-4
  2. Kidney Health Australia, Jan 2012, A Model for Home Dialysis, Australia, ISBN: 978-0-9808596-6-9 (web version)
  3. NT Renal Services 2012, Renal Services Framework 2012-17
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