Peer-Support Preferences and Readiness-to-Change Behaviour for Chronic Disease Prevention in an Urban Indigenous Population

Indigenous Australians are far more likely to suffer from chronic disease than are non Indigenous Australians. Taking a health promotion approach to address this inequity, prevention strategies that aim to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and smoking cessation are indicated. In this paper, the authors outline results of a survey that investigated requirements for peer support and readiness-to-change behaviour for urbanised Indigenous people that focused on areas of nutrition, physical activity, and smoking behaviour. Results of this survey indicated that respondents were more ready to change behaviours that related to nutrition and physical activity but less ready to cease smoking. Peer support preferences were for face-to-face or group support for physical activity and smoking (rather than telephone or website), and assistance with food costs was the preferred strategy to improve nutrition.