Background

Consultations with women in regional and remote areas indicated that the main midlife health priorities for the 40-60 year old woman are information on menopause, hormone therapy, natural therapies, weight management, sexuality, depression and stress management.

Women aged 40-60 living in rural areas also face a specific set of difficulties relating to health and health care including limited access to services, limited choice of services, compromised privacy and limited access to up to date health related information.

Aims

The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health Rural and Remote, Health Professionals Resource Project encompassed a three-stage development process to assist communities to meet local needs in the effective delivery of menopause education and promote community participation.

The process included 

• establishment of a rural steering committee
• development of the educational kit and 
• training module. 

The kit aims to support and provide a comprehensive educational resource for health professionals. The kit will also encourage and support the involvement of key women in local communities as facilitators of the program.

The primary use of the "Midlife resource kit for health professionals" is to conduct community education sessions or consult with consumers on an individual basis. This resource aims to provide health professionals with comprehensive information about midlife health and menopause including teaching strategies, activities and resources.

The kit will provide rural and remote communities with the resources to establish a best practice service to women in the menopausal years focussing on prevention and early detection.

Development and Content

The kit was developed in partnership with a rural steering committee consisting of community health professionals from various rural and regional centres in Victoria. Consultation with women in rural communities was an integral part of the development process.

The Midlife Resource Kit contains 2 manuals, a CD ROM and video with information based on current research findings, clinical experience, evaluation and anecdotal information from The Jean Hailes Foundation, the Rural Steering Committee and focus groups of women consumers.

Contents include information about the areas of most interest and relevance to women including; menopause, natural therapies, sexuality, osteoporosis, cardiac disease, breast health, hormone therapy, lifestyle issues and information for families.

• Manual 1: Comprehensive, up to date material on menopause and midlife health.

• Manual 2: Practical teaching strategies to support health professionals.

• Of note the CD ROM (Midlife Choices for Health and Wellbeing) is the first of its kind. It promotes informed decision-making and addresses health issues for women at midlife.

• The Video ‘Why Me? Menopause’ is another way for women and health professionals to access information on midlife health and menopause.

Along with the development of the kit the project included a train the trainer component. This involved the steering committee training other health professionals from more remote communities in using the kit.

Who is the kit for?

The generic design of the kit enables it to be shared and used by a range of health professionals including GPs, community health nurses, women’s health nurses, physiotherapists and community educators. As a result the potential exists for a far wider coverage of the kit across rural, remote and isolated areas, reaching a greater number of women across Australia.

What do people say about the kit?

The kit was piloted in Victoria throughout 2003 and a comprehensive evaluation process was undertaken.

• 122 health professionals from over 65 rural Victorian communities have used the kit.

• Of these the 36 involved in follow up evaluation reported delivering 266 different education sessions about midlife health issues to 559 participants using the kit as their primary resource.

• 61% of health professionals felt that having access to a Midlife Resource Kit had increased their confidence and ability to conduct education sessions about midlife health.

One GP stated that, ‘this is a great resource and I have conducted an education session with some GPs and Practice nurses,’ and a community health nurse commented that ‘it’s a fantastic resource. It is the information that the majority of women I see ask for, especially complementary health information.’

Steering Committee Members

• Ms Alma Ries,
  Women's Health Nurse, Gippsland Women's Health Service

• Ms Jenny Davidson,
  Community Health Nurse, Glenview Community Care Inc

• Ms Kristine Hogg,
  Community Health Nurse, Robinvale District Health Service

• Ms Sue Fletcher,
  Community Health Nurse, Mitchell Community Health Services

• Ms Carolyn Ripper,
  Women's Health Nurse, Lakes Entrance Community Health

• Ms Robin Northey,
  Registered Nurse Primary Care Division, Swan Hill District Hospital

• Ms Karen Templeton,
  Community Health Nurse, Central Gippsland Health Service

• Ms Mary Paula Williamson,
  Women's Health Nurse, Northern Dist.Com. Health Service

• Ms Pauline McGee,
  Primary Health Coordinator, Mayne Health Services

• Ms Andrea Green,
  Women's Health Nurse, East Grampians Health Service

• Ms Tessa Davies,
  Community Health Nurse, Delatite Community Health Service

Contact

The Jean Hailes Foundation Education Unit 
Telephone: 03 9562 6771 
Facsimile: 03 9548 9120

Content updated March 28, 2006