Stewart T; McDonald R; Currie BJ

Author(s)

Stewart T

McDonald R

Currie BJ

Publication Date

2007-08

Abstract

This paper evaluates adherence with secondary preventative treatment and follow up of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) within the Katherine region of the Northern Territory after the introduction of an ARF register. We aimed to assess the rate of adherence with penicillin prophylaxis and follow-up guidelines in patients with previous ARF and the effect of factors such as age, sex, disease severity and clinic attendance. Retrospective study. Five Indigenous Community Health Centres located in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, Australia. Fifty-nine people resident in five communities who were prescribed monthly prophylactic penicillin for ARF during the 24 months between September 2002 and September 2004. All subjects were Indigenous. Main outcome measures were the number of penicillin injections received over the 24-month period and frequency of echocardiogram and specialist follow up in comparison to Rheumatic Fever Registry Guidelines. Mean adherence with prophylaxis was 56% of prescribed doses. A non-significant trend towards improved adherence was seen in children, patients with less severe disease and those who attended the clinic more frequently. Rheumatic Fever Registry Guidelines for echocardiogram and specialist review were met by 63% and 59% of subjects, respectively. Within this population adherence with penicillin prophylaxis is inadequate to protect against recurrence of ARF and consequent worsening of rheumatic heart disease. In addition, the Rheumatic Fever Registry Guidelines for specialist follow up and echocardiogram are not being adhered to for many patients.

Citation

The Australian journal of rural health 2007-08; 15(4): 234-40

ISSN

1038-5282

Pubmed ID

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17617086/?otool=iaurydwlib

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/5772

MESH subject

Acute Disease

Adolescent

Aftercare

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Child

Drug Monitoring

Drug Prescriptions

Drug Utilization Review

Echocardiography

Female

Guideline Adherence

Humans

Male

Northern Territory

Penicillin G Benzathine

Practice Patterns, Physicians'

Recurrence

Registries

Retrospective Studies

Rheumatic Fever

Rural Health Services

Total Quality Management

Oceanic Ancestry Group

Practice Guidelines as Topic

Title

Acute rheumatic fever: adherence to secondary prophylaxis and follow up of Indigenous patients in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory.

Type of document

Evaluation Study

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Stewart T McDonald R Currie BJ
Publication Date	2007-08
Abstract	This paper evaluates adherence with secondary preventative treatment and follow up of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) within the Katherine region of the Northern Territory after the introduction of an ARF register. We aimed to assess the rate of adherence with penicillin prophylaxis and follow-up guidelines in patients with previous ARF and the effect of factors such as age, sex, disease severity and clinic attendance. Retrospective study. Five Indigenous Community Health Centres located in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, Australia. Fifty-nine people resident in five communities who were prescribed monthly prophylactic penicillin for ARF during the 24 months between September 2002 and September 2004. All subjects were Indigenous. Main outcome measures were the number of penicillin injections received over the 24-month period and frequency of echocardiogram and specialist follow up in comparison to Rheumatic Fever Registry Guidelines. Mean adherence with prophylaxis was 56% of prescribed doses. A non-significant trend towards improved adherence was seen in children, patients with less severe disease and those who attended the clinic more frequently. Rheumatic Fever Registry Guidelines for echocardiogram and specialist review were met by 63% and 59% of subjects, respectively. Within this population adherence with penicillin prophylaxis is inadequate to protect against recurrence of ARF and consequent worsening of rheumatic heart disease. In addition, the Rheumatic Fever Registry Guidelines for specialist follow up and echocardiogram are not being adhered to for many patients.
Citation	The Australian journal of rural health 2007-08; 15(4): 234-40
ISSN	1038-5282
Pubmed ID	https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17617086/?otool=iaurydwlib
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/10137/5772
MESH subject	Acute Disease Adolescent Aftercare Anti-Bacterial Agents Child Drug Monitoring Drug Prescriptions Drug Utilization Review Echocardiography Female Guideline Adherence Humans Male Northern Territory Penicillin G Benzathine Practice Patterns, Physicians' Recurrence Registries Retrospective Studies Rheumatic Fever Rural Health Services Total Quality Management Oceanic Ancestry Group Practice Guidelines as Topic
Title	Acute rheumatic fever: adherence to secondary prophylaxis and follow up of Indigenous patients in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory.
Type of document	Evaluation Study Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Acute rheumatic fever: adherence to secondary prophylaxis and follow up of Indigenous patients in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory.

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