A 7-year-old Aboriginal boy living in a remote community in Central Australia is found on screening to have elevated antistreptolysin O titre and bord...

Question

A 7-year-old Aboriginal boy living in a remote community in Central Australia is found on screening to have elevated antistreptolysin O titre and borderline echocardiographic changes suggestive of early rheumatic heart disease. According to the 2020 Australian RHD guideline, what additional principle is central to his ongoing care?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring culturally safe, family-centred care and addressing barriers to regular prophylaxis and review

Answer

Focusing solely on prescribing benzathine penicillin injections

Answer

Refusing to discuss his condition with extended family to maintain confidentiality

Answer

Transferring him permanently to a tertiary centre far from community

Answer

Withholding secondary prophylaxis until overt heart failure develops

au-amc MCQ (SBA): Rheumatic heart disease cultural safety