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Background There is a great deal of variation in the design and delivery of the peer health navigator role, making it difficult to adapt role responsibilities into context. In this study, we aimed to co‐design a bicultural peer health navigator (BPHN) role to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people from Pacific Islander, Māori and Arabic‐speaking backgrounds. Methods A two‐phase co‐design approach involving workshops with follow‐up member checking via interview was used to gain insight into factors affecting patient interaction and access barriers to health services. Results Barriers described by participants emerged under five major themes—overcoming language barriers, improving communication, navigation and access to information, appointment reminders, and health and social services education in the community. Conclusion Clear tasks for the BPHN role were identified by the participants to improve accessibility and usage of healthcare services. Future work should involve feasibility testing with the support and involvement of community members, BPHNs and their supervisors and importantly health service leaders. Patient or Public Contribution Four of the authors were employed as bicultural peer health navigators (BPHNs) who engaged their communities to organise and conduct these workshops in their preferred language. This approach enabled an inclusive environment for the participants to share their thoughts and experiences. The proposed roles for a BPHN were generated from the workshop discussions. The BPHNs conducted the semi‐structured verification interviews with the workshop participants. The thematic analysis was conducted by two of the BPHNs, with one being the primary author.

Australians are being encouraged to take greater responsibility for their own health care. The concept of self-care is being promoted widely, including the recent paper released by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission and, more commercially, by the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI).To enable Australian consumers to assume this responsibility, they should have the right to know and have access to the evidence-based status of any treatment they are considering, to enable them to make well-informed choices. This especially applies to medicines.

Comorbidity of substance abuse with chronic conditions may have a synergistic impact on patients' health. Recognition of this may improve patient care. Associations between substance abuse and three common morbidities from de-identified data from a sample of the electronic records of approximately 360 general practitioners were analysed using one proprietary software. Where 'reason for visit' or 'problem managed' was associated with substance use, multiple logistic regression models tested associations. Significant comorbid associations were found for previous smoking with cardiovascular morbidity and respiratory problems. Current smoking and alcohol abuse were nearly three times as common among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prescription drug abuse and illicit drug use demonstrated significant associations with chronic back pain. Current smoking was less common among patients with hypertension and lipid disorder. The well known causes of substance abuse and common chronic conditions may be more than compensated by their prevention among those with cardiovascular disease. However, other substance abuse comorbidity occurs and may be preventable.