See, Treat, Prevent Skin Sores and Scabies (SToP) Trial

Investigators

Chief investigators

Professor Asha Bowen, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, Professor Steven Tong, Professor Julianne Coffin, Professor Andrew Steer, Associate Professor Roz Walker, Doctor Julie Marsh, Mr Raymond Christophers

Healthy Skin Researchers

Dr Hannah Thomas, Tracy McRae, Stephanie Enkel, Marianne Mullane

Project description

Healthy skin is important for maintaining overall health and wellbeing. Some skin infections, if untreated, can lead to serious downstream health complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, or sepsis.

The See, Treat, Prevent Skin Sores and Scabies (SToP) Trial is a large clinical trial operating in the Kimberley region of WA, which aims to decrease the burden of skin sores in remote-living school-aged Aboriginal children by 50 per cent. In an effort to improve the awareness, detection, and treatment of skin infections, the SToP Trial is evaluating a package of activities aimed at Seeing, Treating and Preventing skin infections:

Seeing

• Implementing school-based screening surveillance activities to check kids’ skin for infections and refer them to their local clinic if they need treatment.
• Providing training for health workers, school staff and community members to improve detection of skin infections.

Treating

• Making available in community clinics streamlined evidence-based treatment for skin infections that are safe, effective, less invasive and easier for people to manage.
• Providing training for health workers to improve treatment of skin infections.

Preventing

• Working with local communities to co-design and deliver community-driven skin-related health promotion and environmental health resources.
• Building the capacity of children, through interactive workshops, to recognise skin infections.
• The innovative trial is the first Australian healthy skin study to incorporate environmental health and health promotion elements.

Operating from 2016 until 2023, the SToP Trial is a collaboration between The Kids Research Institute Australia, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, WA Country Health Services – Kimberley, and Nirrumbuk Environmental Health Services. Nine Kimberley Aboriginal communities participated in the SToP Trial.

The results of the SToP Trial were interpreted with communities in mid-2023 prior to presentation to stakeholders at a September workshop in Broome. 

Partners

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS), Western Australia Country Health Service-Kimberley (WACHS-K), Nirrumbuk Environmental Health Services

External collaborators

• Menzies School of Health Research
• University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute
• University of Western Australia
• Western Australia Department of Education, Kimberley Region
• Murdoch University
• Catholic Education WA

Funders

The SToP Trial is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and WA Department of Health Government (Healthway).

Gathering Circles – the SToP Trial Story

Gathering Circles, painted by Bardi man Luke Riches (2020), tells the story of the The SToP Trial. The circles represent the nine Aboriginal communities working with the SToP Trial. In Riches’ words “The circles vary in colour and composition, just as the communities hold their own unique identities. The backdrop of pindan orange and coastal blues convey the land and sea setting that makes the Kimberley so beautiful. The dot painted trails show a connection between the communities, of both foot trails and song lines that unite the people”.