Living in a regional area : access, utilisation and health care quality
- Lê, Quynh, Auckland, Stuart, Nguyên, Hoang, Terry, Daniel, Hoang, Ha
- Authors: Lê, Quynh , Auckland, Stuart , Nguyên, Hoang , Terry, Daniel , Hoang, Ha
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Innovative Interdisciplinary Research Vol. 2, no. (2013), p. 20-32
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Primary health care plays a significant role in the well-being of individuals and communities, yet access to these services can vary. Factors such as socio-economic status and location of residence can impact this access. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between location, utilisation, quality and health outcomes of primary health care services in the Meander Valley municipality of Tasmania, Australia. This paper reports the findings of the study which adopted a mixed-methods approach with multiple sources of data including government reports, survey questionnaires and interviews. The regional socio-economic disadvantage reflected not only the health disparities and poorer health conditions, but also the affordability to seek care. This was compounded by the lower levels of available health services and private health insurance. The lack of local services or their low quality was the main motivation for many to seek care outside of the region, which was unaffordable and at times logistically impossible. On the basis of the findings, a number of recommendations are provided to guide the current and future health care services and to improve the well-being of the Meander Valley community.
- Authors: Lê, Quynh , Auckland, Stuart , Nguyên, Hoang , Terry, Daniel , Hoang, Ha
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Innovative Interdisciplinary Research Vol. 2, no. (2013), p. 20-32
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Primary health care plays a significant role in the well-being of individuals and communities, yet access to these services can vary. Factors such as socio-economic status and location of residence can impact this access. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between location, utilisation, quality and health outcomes of primary health care services in the Meander Valley municipality of Tasmania, Australia. This paper reports the findings of the study which adopted a mixed-methods approach with multiple sources of data including government reports, survey questionnaires and interviews. The regional socio-economic disadvantage reflected not only the health disparities and poorer health conditions, but also the affordability to seek care. This was compounded by the lower levels of available health services and private health insurance. The lack of local services or their low quality was the main motivation for many to seek care outside of the region, which was unaffordable and at times logistically impossible. On the basis of the findings, a number of recommendations are provided to guide the current and future health care services and to improve the well-being of the Meander Valley community.
The shortage-surplus paradox : a literature review of primary health care accessibility
- Terry, Melissa, Terry, Daniel, Hoang, Ha, Hannah, Chona
- Authors: Terry, Melissa , Terry, Daniel , Hoang, Ha , Hannah, Chona
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 1, no. 3 (2013), p. 40-50
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The National Primary Health Care Strategy in Australia recommends primary health care services need to be clinically and culturally appropriate and delivered in a timely and affordable manner. However simultaneously recognised, access is still inequitable in among various population groups and many areas of Australia. Geographical Information System (GIS) have been used to explore geographical health disparities, planning health care service delivery and provide data in a meaningful way to inform public health strategies. Moreover, GIS has also been used to spatially analyse, measure and provide insight into a population’s accessibility to health care services. A literature search was conducted to identify studies which examined primary health care accessibility using GIS techniques among various urban and rural populations. A limited number of studies demonstrated in addition to distance; time; and location, low socioeconomic status, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background among other factors influences health care access. In addition, other factors were identified to impact health care access, which is an individualised process, influenced by individual characteristics, beliefs, attitudes, and an individual’s activity space. As health care accessibility becomes more prominent within policy, among practitioners and increasingly researched, it has the potential to move beyond recognising areas of poor accessibility among individuals and communities. With a greater integration of both spatial and aspatial data, the process has the likelihood, to provide greater insight into patient behaviour, public perception, amelioration service quality and improve population health and wellbeing.
- Authors: Terry, Melissa , Terry, Daniel , Hoang, Ha , Hannah, Chona
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 1, no. 3 (2013), p. 40-50
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The National Primary Health Care Strategy in Australia recommends primary health care services need to be clinically and culturally appropriate and delivered in a timely and affordable manner. However simultaneously recognised, access is still inequitable in among various population groups and many areas of Australia. Geographical Information System (GIS) have been used to explore geographical health disparities, planning health care service delivery and provide data in a meaningful way to inform public health strategies. Moreover, GIS has also been used to spatially analyse, measure and provide insight into a population’s accessibility to health care services. A literature search was conducted to identify studies which examined primary health care accessibility using GIS techniques among various urban and rural populations. A limited number of studies demonstrated in addition to distance; time; and location, low socioeconomic status, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background among other factors influences health care access. In addition, other factors were identified to impact health care access, which is an individualised process, influenced by individual characteristics, beliefs, attitudes, and an individual’s activity space. As health care accessibility becomes more prominent within policy, among practitioners and increasingly researched, it has the potential to move beyond recognising areas of poor accessibility among individuals and communities. With a greater integration of both spatial and aspatial data, the process has the likelihood, to provide greater insight into patient behaviour, public perception, amelioration service quality and improve population health and wellbeing.
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