Australia

Citation

(2005), "Australia", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 18 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2005.06218fab.005

Australia

Hundreds of IT savvy seniors get online for their health: more needed

Keywords: Public health, Patient involvement, Health care research

Australia’s seniors have embraced internet technology by getting online for the sake of their health. Researchers, encouraged by the response, are now asking others to go online too.

Hundreds of over-55s from across the country have participated enthusiastically in a new online research study from leading Australian researchers, which helps adults of all ages to discover if their health is at risk from raised cholesterol. High cholesterol levels increase the chance of heart attack and stroke – diseases which kill around 50,000 Australians every year.

Associate Professor Bruce Neal, Director of the Heart and Vascular Division at The George Institute for International Health, University of Sydney, said the response from older participants has been a welcome surprise: “To date, over 50 per cent of participants in the trial are over 55. This was somewhat unexpected given that the research study is being conducted online and we were unsure if older respondents would embrace an online study. What we have seen is that over 55s are clearly motivated to manage their health and are happy to use the internet to assist. Through the user-friendly study, found at www.cholesterolcheck.info, we hope to potentially assist in saving many lives.”

With the online study still recruiting adults of all ages, the New Year is the ideal time for others to join, says Professor Neal: “During the holiday period many of us overindulge – in particularly eating a lot more fatty foods than normal. The new year is the ideal time to start focusing on our health again.”

“It’s not just seniors who are at risk – cholesterol can affect us at any age. Unfortunately, many people are not even aware that they may have raised cholesterol, or should be getting treatment, and this is where we hope to make a difference.”

The George Institute plans to recruit 3,500 participants into I-CAT and is encouraging all Australians concerned that their health might be affected by cholesterol to log onto www.cholesterolcheck.info. Over 600 participants have enrolled to date.

Participants in the voluntary research trial will be asked to visit the website two or three times over a period of a few months to answer a brief list of questions. They will receive advice about risks caused by cholesterol and how those risks can be managed. All advice provided will be in line with standard recommendations from the National Heart Foundation of Australia, the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

I-CAT is collaboration between The George Institute for International Health, the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research at Westmead Hospital, the Lipid Clinic at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney. The George Institute recently received an MBF Health Research Award worth $110,000 over two years for I-CAT.

For more information, see www.thegeorgeinstitute.org