Tribal Voice

Prince of Wales Hospital HIV/AIDS and Related Programs (HARP) Unit

Safe Summer Survival is an annual health promotion campaign. Bi-annually Shire Wide Youth Services and Waverley Action for Youth Services conduct a survey at the same time about the sexual health behaviour of 12 to 25 year olds in southern and eastern Sydney.

Explore | The survey design and data collection is managed by Shire Wide Youth Services and Waverley Action for Youth Services. Tribe Research undertakes the data entry.

Uncover | The sexual experience of young people at different ages, the prevalence and influence of alcohol/drug use on sexual behaviour, changes since previous surveys and differences between demographic groups.

• In 2004, 32% said they would go to a doctor or nurse for information about sexual health issues. In 2006 about a fifth of the participants had discussed recreational drug use, mental health issues and/or sexual health issues with a local doctor.
• The average age for first experiencing oral sex was 14.5, and for sexual intercourse it was 14.8.
• The most common response for number of partners was 2 to 4, for both oral sex and sexual intercourse.
• Over 50% of those who have had sexual intercourse use condoms always or most of the time.
• There was an increase in the proportion reporting they’ve had sex while affected by alcohol or drugs from 2004 to 2006, even though participant average age decreased in the period. Other than alcohol, the main recreational drugs were cannabis and ecstasy.

Clear-Head | Presentation of results to the HIV/AIDS & Related Programs unit at the Prince of Wales hospital.

Drive Change | The results identified areas of importance and at-risk groups to target in future youth education through the Summer Survival team. They are being used to develop sexual health services and education programs.

The Sexual Health Survey is conducted every 2 years by peer educators from Waverly Area Youth Services (WAYS) and Shire Wide Youth Services Inc (SWYS). It is funded by South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service’s HIV/AIDS and Related Programs Unit. The sample is collected through a convenience methodology and therefore analyses of bias can’t be undertaken. The survey is also collected in social environments and it is possible that some participants were influenced by peer pressure.

The above post is extracted from our newsletter, Tribal Voice Spring 2006 which is no longer available.

The 2008 report can be downloaded from the WAYS Website.

Tribe Research has done the analysis in 2004, 2006, and 2008.

Integrated Health Related Community Transport Co-ordination Trial

Project in collaboration with Age Communications.

TRIPS software data collection over the Integrated Health Related Community Transport Co-ordination Trial and survey individuals involved in the trial.

Explore | Design of four brief satisfaction surveys for passengers, providers, volunteers, and health professional secretaries on the cost, timeliness, ease of access, met and unmet needs, and service quality.

Uncover | Analysis in SPSS and reporting of 136,000 TRIPS data collected using the software package TRIPS and provide report on data inconsistencies and changes in trip information throughout the trial period. Strengths and weaknesses for Integrated Health Related Community Transport.

Drive change | The results were used to guide improvement of Integrated Health Related Community Transport.

In May 2004 the NSW Ombudsman produced a report: Assisting Homeless People – the need to improve their access to accommodation and support services. The inquiry found that exclusionary policies and practices were adversely affecting access by the most vulnerable groups to Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) services. In some cases, this seemed to contravene significant legislated guidelines and anti-discrimination legislation. People with alcohol and other drug dependency issues, mental illness and brain related physical disabilities were affected.

One response by peak bodies was to develop a client assessment risk tool and risk management process that would be implemented through training. Age Communications won the tender and Tribe Research is helping in a variety of areas to support this research on various service foci and levels. We have been working with Age Communications on the SAAP Client Risk Assessment Project and the Workshop evaluations of the trial training program. They are being run successfully throughout New South Wales.

Tribe Research and Age Communications project was Highly Commended at the WorkCover Safe Work Awards 2006 in the Best Solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue category.

The SAAP Client Risk Assessment Tool and Process consists of a six step process of Trigger Questions, Follow-up Questions, Severity of Risk, Risk Management Strategies, Decision and Evaluation. It has been implemented through training programs across NSW.

The project was funded by NSW DoCS with a steering committee of HomelessnessNSW.ACT, Women’s Refuge Resource Centre, Youth Accommodation Association of NSW, NGO Training Unit, and NSW Council of Social Services.

This post was extracted from our Spring 2005 and Spring 2006 Tribal Voice newsletters.

GP, Pharmacy and Hospital communication links improve patient care outcomes

Tribe Research was commissioned by The Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch to advise on the evaluation of continuity of care between the Prince of Wales Hospital [Sydney] Heartlink Program and Home Medicine Reviews program. The study, published in the Australian Journal of Pharmacy and Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, found an improved link between hospital, GPs and community pharmacy that resulted in positive patient outcomes.

Blennerhassett JD, Cusack BM, Smith CD , Green L, Tribe KL (2006) A Novel Medicines Management Pathway. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 36(3): 175-180.

Smith C, Tribe K, Cusack B, Blennerhassett J (2005) HMRs can drive continuity of care. Australian Journal of Pharmacy, 86:620-621, August.

Download our Health Research booklet for an abstract of the articles.

This post is an extract from our newsletter Tribal Voice #2 Spring 2005