2024 University Research Seminar Series - CHSD

Highlights of the event

Presentation title: Improving health outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse people with hypertension through a co-design innovation: i-CALD manage Project.

Presentation Abstract: The i-CALD Manage project focuses on translating evidence into practice to promote sustainable health equity and accessibility of cardiac care and preventive care to improve health outcomes for diverse populations in South Australia and also be applicable nationwide. The i-CALD Manage project is a multidisciplinary research collaboration among universities, SA Health, SAHMRI, Health Foundation, and NHMRC (Funding, $40K). We aim to co-design and utilise the effective and culturally appropriate digital health platform to empower CALD communities to self-manage hypertension and prevent its complications. The project will produce data-driven evidence that highly translatable to cardiovascular care practice, guidelines and policies for CALD populations. In 2024, we will be piloting this approach in three selected ethnic groups: Indian, Sub Saharan African and Vietnamese based on the evidence derive from SA-based study (TED study II1 and III2). This presentation will highlight the need for this study, outline our research design, and progress so far.

Vitae Framework Domains: This seminar will cover various Vitae Researcher Development Framework Domains, including Knowledge and intellectual abilities (Domain A—A1, A2 & A3) and Engagement, Influence & Impact (Domain D—D3).

Location: This is a virtual event that can be accessed via Zoom here

Meet our presenters

Associate Professor Hannah Wechkunanukul

Associate Professor Hannah is a senior academic educator in Public Health and a researcher at the Centre for Healthy Sustainable Development (CHSD), Torrens University. Hannah has a background in pharmacy practice, health service management, community health and primary health care. Her expertise covers mixed methods design, co-design, data correlation, systematic review and meta-analysis. Her research projects focus on inequities, inequality and accessibility among disadvantaged populations, specifically culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations; health service and transitional care; health behaviour; prevention and self-care management; digital health innovation; and climate change.

Her recent study has established specific knowledge and evidence around the delay in seeking medical care for cardiac symptoms among CALD populations globally and nationally. The project has assisted researchers and clinicians in better understanding ethnic differences in health behaviour and the need of cultural competency in the healthcare system. Hannah has worked collaboratively with the Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) in establishing the atlas correlating clinical data and population health areas (SA) which can be a useful tool for further investigation, and it can serve as a resource for education. She is currently working with a multidisciplinary team, industry partners and cultural communities nationally and internationally to improve accessibility to health service and empower disadvantaged populations locally and globally.

Dr Philip Dalinjong

Philip Dalinjong is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Surry Hills Campus, Sydney, and a Post-Doctoral Fellow with the Centre for Healthy Sustainable Development (CHSD), Torrens University. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Ghana and a Master’s degree in Public Health (specialised in Health Economics) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Philip pursued his Doctoral degree, also in Public Health, at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Prior to joining Torrens University, Philip was a Senior Health Research Officer at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana. He has extensive experience in both field-based research projects and clinical trials, particularly drugs and vaccines for malaria prevention and control. Philip is keen on promoting equity and access to health services for all population groups, especially marginalised and vulnerable groups such as women and children, rural dwellers, migrant groups etc. Currently, Philip is working collaboratively with Professor Hannah on the i-CALD manage Project.