The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role
This includes knowledge of:
organisation policies and procedures and legislation or regulations relating to:
- client confidentiality
- referral, including various levels of urgency, and follow-up of clients
- mandatory reporting
- notifiable communicable diseases
- limits of own ability and authority
- reporting procedures
- documentation
prevalence and statistical incidence of diabetes, heart disease and chronic kidney disease in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander populations compared to non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander populations
importance of self-management and the promotion of health-seeking behaviours
importance of developing care plans that involve the client and the multidisciplinary care team
health promotion strategies for all chronic conditions (primary, secondary and tertiary prevention), including:
- maternal and infant/child health
- smoking cessation
- national recommendations for healthy eating (including avoiding foods high in saturated fat and salt)
- national recommendations for physical activity
- vaccination (hepatitis B, pneumococcal, influenza & HPV)
- oral health
- safe alcohol consumption
- social and emotional wellbeing
- annual child and adult health checks
features of chronic illness, including:
- complex causality
- multiple risk factors
- long latency periods
- a prolonged course of illness
- functional impairment or disability
specific chronic conditions affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities, including:
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetes
- cancer
- chronic respiratory disease
- chronic kidney disease
- asthma
- arthritis
- oral disease
specific impact of chronic conditions on major body organs and systems
groups at high risk of chronic conditions
determinants of chronic conditions, including:
- smoking
- physical activity
- nutrition
- alcohol intake
- use of illicit drugs
- obesity, weight and waist circumference
- unsafe sexual practices
- genetic factors
treatment and management of chronic conditions, including:
- working strategically with clients, family and significant others to promote self-management as far as possible
- medication
- surgery
- regular exercise
- good nutrition
- cessation of smoking
- cessation or moderation of alcohol use
- cessation of illicit drug use
- regular screenings for changes in disease presentation and detection of other diseases
in relation to cardiovascular diseases:
- the concept of ‘cardiovascular risk factors’, the significance of an individual having multiple risk factors
- the development of atherosclerosis and the basic pathophysiology of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease
- basic medical and surgical management of coronary heart disease
- basic knowledge of the causes, prevention and management of other cardiovascular diseases including rheumatic heart disease, heart failure and cardiomyopathies
in relation to diabetes mellitus:
- basic pathophysiology of type II contrasted with type I diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes
- complications of diabetes (macrovascular: coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease; and microvascular: neuropathies, retinopathy and nephropathy)
- main elements of the ‘diabetes annual cycle of care’
- importance of follow-up for women with gestational diabetes and their children
- role of other members of the multidisciplinary care team (e.g. GP, endocrinologist, diabetes educator, podiatrist, dietician, ophthalmologist/optometrist, psychologist)
in relation to chronic kidney disease:
- basic pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease (causes, body systems affected, progression/staging )
- importance of early detection of chronic kidney disease in effort to defer or prevent end-stage kidney disease
- screening and monitoring of chronic kidney disease (including blood and urine tests)
- strategies to delay progression of chronic kidney disease (including control of blood sugar, blood pressure and smoking cessation)
- complications (including hypertension, anaemia, bone demineralisation and high potassium levels) and major causes of death
- options for management of end-stage kidney disease (palliative care, haemodialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, transplant).
- dilemmas and difficulties faced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and their families who need to relocate to distant centres in order to access dialysis treatment
supporting clients in self-care, including diet, physical activity, foot care, self-monitoring of blood sugar, and use of diabetes medicines in relation to chronic renal disease, :
- basic pathophysiology of chronic renal failure (causes, body systems affected, natural history)
- factors which may worsen or accelerate renal failure (including: high blood pressure, anti-inflammatory drugs, poor diabetes control, dehydration, high protein diet)
- clinical features of advanced renal failure
- the importance of early detection of renal disease in efforts to defer or prevent end-stage renal failure
- options for treatment of end-stage renal failure (haemodialysis, chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, transplant)
the dilemmas and difficulties faced by Aboriginal people and their families who need to relocate to distant centres in order to access dialysis treatment
familiarity with a range of other common chronic conditions in Aboriginal populations:
- chronic liver disease – causes, clinical features and principles of management (including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis)
- chronic obstructive lung disease, relationship to smoking and principles of management
agencies able to provide support and assistance to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with chronic disabilities
strategies to assist Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with disabilities to live fulfilling and productive lives in the community
methods of organising care of clients with chronic conditions (e.g. disease registers, care plan schedules in medical files, tagging files, computerised client information and recall systems)
value of the opportunistic approach to chronic condition surveillance (comprehensive check-ups as people come to the clinic)