Walker Yorta Yorta Troy, Singh Karan P, Gan Vanessa, Conley Ngiyampaa Brooke, Bravo Jessica, Smith Weilwan Nigel, Clarke Eastern Maar Kirrae Whurrung Djap Wurrung April, Baker Jackson, Maple-Brown Louise J, Daly Robin M, Browne Jennifer, Zanker Jesse, Shore-Lorenti Cat, Scott David, Ebeling Peter R, Zengin Ayse
Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.
National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Melbourne, VIC.
Med J Aust. 2025 Jul 21;223(2):92-100. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52704. Epub 2025 Jun 17.
To explore perspectives and beliefs on bone health among Indigenous adults in Victoria.
Qualitative focus groups with semi-structured questions. Focus group discussions were analysed for themes and subthemes using an Indigenous research framework based on three concepts: Ways of Knowing, Ways of Being and Ways of Doing.
SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Focus groups were conducted at Aboriginal Community-controlled organisations and Community centres. Men and women aged ≥ 35 years who identified as Indigenous and were able to give informed consent were invited to participate.
Eighty-two Indigenous people participated in twelve focus groups across ten sites in Victoria. Most participants (64) were women, and the majority lived in metropolitan centres, regional centres and large rural towns (Modified Monash categories 1-3). Five themes were developed around the Indigenous framework proposed by Karen Martin-Booran Mirraboopa - Ways of Knowing, Ways of Doing and Ways of Being - which guided participants in identifying knowledge of exercise for bone and muscle health; connection to Country; importance of regular preventive health activities; food and nutrients as good medicine for bone health; and healthy futures for Community through education. An overarching theme of holistic health, including the aspect of spirituality and related lifestyle factors pertaining to musculoskeletal health, was highlighted.
Increasing bone health awareness by a co-created Community education program was valued as it would be beneficial for Indigenous people across the life course. To be effective, incorporating traditional Indigenous ways and knowledge along with present-day health evidence is required.
探讨维多利亚州原住民成年人对骨骼健康的看法和信念。
采用半结构化问题的定性焦点小组。使用基于“认知方式”“存在方式”和“行为方式”这三个概念的原住民研究框架，对焦点小组讨论进行主题和子主题分析。
背景、参与者：焦点小组在原住民社区控制组织和社区中心进行。邀请年龄≥35岁、自认为是原住民且能够给予知情同意的男性和女性参与。
82名原住民参与了维多利亚州10个地点的12个焦点小组。大多数参与者（64人）为女性，且大多数居住在大都市中心、地区中心和大型乡村城镇（莫纳什分类修改版1 - 3类）。围绕凯伦·马丁 - 博兰·米拉罗波提出的原住民框架——“认知方式”“行为方式”和“存在方式”——形成了五个主题，这些主题引导参与者确定有关骨骼和肌肉健康锻炼的知识；与乡村的联系；定期预防性健康活动的重要性；食物和营养作为骨骼健康的良药；以及通过教育实现社区的健康未来。强调了整体健康的总体主题，包括与肌肉骨骼健康相关的精神层面和生活方式因素。
共同创建的社区教育项目提高骨骼健康意识受到重视，因为这对原住民一生都有益。要取得成效，需要将传统原住民方式和知识与当今健康证据相结合。
