Update on the Multicultural Community Quality Use of Medicines (MCQUM)

The Multicultural Community QUM Program is a combined initiative of the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the National Prescribing Service, NPS. This is an overview of the progress of the project.

1. Proposed Research with New and Emerging Communities and Humanitarian Entrants:

New and emerging communities and humanitarian entrants have been identified as priority target groups for the MCQUM Program. A previous literature review undertaken by FECCA concluded that further research was required to pinpoint QUM information needs, identify gaps, and develop a more detailed profile of emerging communities and the services and programs they accessed.

In 2009, FECCA and NPS will be undertaking research in order to develop a more comprehensive evidence-base upon which future QUM programs can be developed and implemented amongst new and emerging communities and humanitarian entrants.

The findings from this research will be used to:

• Map out existing programs, service providers and community organisations providing services and support to new and emerging communities and humanitarian entrants;
• Develop a model for promoting QUM to new and emerging models, including suggested information products, a strategy for targeting intermediaries, and potential community development initiatives; and
• Identify policy implications, including gaps or impediments in current service provision and ways of creating an environment more conducive to QUM.

It is anticipated this research will entail:

• Literature review;
• Questionnaire to be circulated nationally to settlement service providers, community organisations, health professionals, refugee health services, interpreting services; and
• Qualitative case-study research, involving focus groups with selected communities in selected locations, and key informant interviews or roundtable discussions with service providers and health professionals working within the
  selected case-study communities.

Members from participating communities and from the MCQUM Network will be consulted to establish potential partner agencies; to identify relevant literature (including unpublished reports and program evaluations); and to advise on the appropriate scope and form of the research.

If you would like to contribute to the consultation process, or receive further information about the proposed research, please contact Corinne - 02 6282 5755; mcqum2@fecca.org.au.

2. Get to know your medicines campaign with Italian and Chinese Communities:

Between September and December 2008, FECCA and NPS ran a national campaign to enhance awareness around QUM amongst Chinese- and Italianspeaking seniors. The campaign included over 150 community service
announcements, talk back and interviews on multicultural and in-language radio; print media; a new multilingual website; 77 education seminars run nationally by Chinese and Italian organisations; and the distribution of over 95,000 translated health information resources.

The evaluation of the campaign is currently underway. It is anticipated that this approach may be expanded to Greek and Vietnamese communities in 2009. Feedback on proposed campaign strategies with Greek and
Vietnamese communities is currently being sought.

If you would like to provide feedback of future campaign strategies, or would like further information on the 2008 multilingual campaign, please contact Jackie - 02 8217 8700 or email: jstephenson@nps.org.au or Corinne - 02 6282 5755 or email: mcqum2@fecca.org.au

3. Generic medicines awareness campaign:

As a follow on from the Get to know your medicines campaign, NPS and FECCA are running a national generic medicines awareness campaign for seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This is part of NPS’s broader Generic medicines are an equal choice campaign, which began in July 2008.

A core message of this campaign is that generic medicines contain the same active ingredient as the original brand medicine, and therefore have the same effect.

Gaining familiarity with the active ingredient name enables consumers to understand that the generic medicines have the same effect as brand medicines. From this consumers can make informed decisions and reduce the risk of potential confusion and medicine misadventure.

In February and March 2009, radio announcements and interviews with health professionals will be broadcast in Cantonese, Mandarin and Italian, on SBS Radio, 2CR, 2AC, 3CW and Rete Italia. Printed bilingual resources with information about generic medicines are currently being developed in Chinese (simplified and traditional), Italian, Greek and Vietnamese. These bilingual resources will be available in March 2009.

For further information about the Generic medicines campaign, contact Liane Johnson at NPS - 02 8217 8700

4. New translated resources:

NPS, FECCA and the Macedonian Community Welfare Association in Victoria have collaborated in the production of a Macedonian Medimate. 

NPS and FECCA have also collaborated with Co.As.It Victoria to produce a 2009 Italian Calendar.

The calendar comprises images donated by the Italian Historical Society (Co.As.It) Victoria, with each month featuring a QUM tip or message. The calendar, which has been distributed across Australia, has proven immensely popular and we are out of stock. However, options for the production of in-language calendars in future years are currently under consideration.

5. TIS to expand interpreting services to pharmacies:

In December 2008, the Federal Government announced that free telephone interpreting services would be available to pharmacies across Australia. Registered pharmacies across Australia are now able to access the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The decision follows from the review of a six-month pilot program that extended free interpreting services to pharmacies. Pharmacies who participated in this pilot used interpreting services more frequently and reported improved outcomes in terms of client understanding of medicines.

In research undertaken by FECCA and NPS, communication problems between CALD health consumers and health professionals have frequently been cited as a barrier to the safe and effective use of medicines. We are therefore encouraging the promotion and uptake of the free interpreting service through our networks.

More information about the interpreting service for pharmacies:

6. National Primary Healthcare Strategy:

Primary health services provide frontline care in the community, and having an effective primary healthcare system is therefore an essential element in encouraging the safe and wise use of medicines amongst CALD communities.

The Federal Government are currently developing a National Strategy for Primary Healthcare, which will provide a roadmap for the future direction of primary health care in Australia. The discussion paper 'Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy' provides information and a series of questions to assist individuals and
organisations to structure their input to development of the Strategy through written submission.

The paper maintains that greater equity in access and outcomes is essential, as is greater accountability for performance and outcomes. Contributions from the community are encouraged.

Submissions are due on 27 February. 

If you would like to provide input to the National Primary Healthcare Strategy submission being put together by FECCA, please contact Corinne - 02 6282 5755 or email: mcqum2@fecca.org.au