The 92,000 older Italian-born people living in Australia make up the country's largest aged (over 65) culturally and linguistically diverse community. This story tells what happened when Co.As.It Victoria gave its community the opportunity to learn about the quality use of medicines. Co.As.It (Italian Assistance Association) is a not-for-profit organisation that provides information, education and welfare services for Victoria's Italian community.

Initial project

The story began in early 2005 when Co.As.It received a small grant from the National Prescribing Service and Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia. The grant was one of many intended to help community groups promote the quality use of medicines in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Co.As.It used its grant to run two half-day information sessions for Italians living in Melbourne. Most of the participants were older Italians, but some adult children also attended.

Each session began with introductory information about Italians in Australia and the health status of the Italian community. An Italian-speaking GP or pharmacist then spoke about using medicines. Their talk focused on giving participants the confidence to talk to their doctors and pharmacists, so they could learn more about their medicines and be more involved in managing them. The speaker strongly urged participants to ask questions, and reassured them that doing so would not be seen as disrespectful. They also told them about the services they could request of doctors and pharmacists, such as printed lists of their medicines, and having their medicines put in weekly medication organisers.

Most of the session was devoted to a lively interactive discussion between the speaker and participants. This was the most enjoyable part of the morning for most participants, because it provided a relaxed and non-intimidating environment in which they could ask questions of the speaker in their own language. Afterwards, participants had the opportunity to talk personally with the speaker to ask private questions.

At the end of each session, participants were given a light lunch of pasta and salad, and a showbag of medicines information in Italian, including the Italian 'Medimate' booklet*.

Additional sessions

Like all community groups, Co.As.It has limited funds, so they only ever envisaged running the two sessions funded by the grant. However, word soon spread through the organisation's network of 90 Italian senior citizens groups, and the presidents of many groups began lobbying Co.As.It to run more sessions.

'We heard that such and such a club had a GP [or pharmacist] talk to them about medicines. We would like one too because it is important that our members don't miss out on this type of information. Can you organise one for us?'

Co.As.It responded by funding additional sessions from its own resources. To date, it has run another seven sessions, which means that over 700 older Italians have learnt about the quality use of medicines in a culturally appropriate manner in their own language. Another five sessions are planned for the next few months.

Benefits

The Italian community now has a greater aware-ness of quality use of medicines issues, and the sessions have brought many benefits to participants. Stella Tallorita, Co.As.It social worker, said, 'Many people now have the confidence to ask questions of their GP and pharmacist, and to talk to them about their concerns like possible inter-actions between medicines. As well, many of the people have spoken to their pharmacists and arranged to have their medicines dispensed in medication organisers, or sought advice about managing their medicines. Some participants, particularly those with disabled or frail parents, have requested Home Medicines Reviews for them-selves or their parents'. Benefits cited by participants included,
'I'm going home now and throwing out all two drawers that are full of medicines from the last 10 years.' (Woman, 79 years) 'I'm still using the eye drops from last year. No-one ever told me that this medicine expires after a month or so after opening.' (Woman, 63 years)

'My wife always gives me my medicines. But it's important for both of us to know more about all the drugs that we take and that's why these sessions are very important, especially when we can talk to the doctor in our language and he understands our culture.' (Man, 80 years)

Implications

According to Walter Petralia, Co.As.It Manager, Health Promotion and Community Development, 'The small project planned by Co.As.It unexpectedly snowballed into a much larger one because it tapped into the huge unmet need of older Italians for information about quality use of medicines. The avalanche of requests for more sessions clearly shows the older Italian community's 'hunger' for information. It also highlights the urgent need for more written resources that can be disseminated through community networks, and the need for more information sessions involving Italian-speaking GPs and pharmacists'.

* A booklet about the quality use of medicines, currently available in English and four other languages, that can be ordered from the consumer section of the NPS website.