Enablers and Barriers to Accessing Healthcare Services for Aboriginal People in New South Wales, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 18(6)2021 03 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33804104
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Australia's healthcare system is complex and fragmented which can create challenges in healthcare, particularly in rural and remote areas. Aboriginal people experience inequalities in healthcare treatment and outcomes. This study aimed to investigate barriers and enablers to accessing healthcare services for Aboriginal people living in regional and remote Australia.METHODS:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare delivery staff and stakeholders recruited through snowball sampling. Three communities were selected for their high proportion of Aboriginal people and diverse regional and remote locations. Thematic analysis identified barriers and enablers.RESULTS:
Thirty-one interviews were conducted in the three communities (n = 5 coastal, n = 13 remote, and n = 13 border) and six themes identified (1) Improved coordination of healthcare services; (2) Better communication between services and patients; (3) Trust in services and cultural safety; (4) Importance of prioritizing health services by Aboriginal people; (5) Importance of reliable, affordable and sustainable services; (6) Distance and transport availability. These themes were often present as both barriers and enablers to healthcare access for Aboriginal people. They were also present across the healthcare system and within all three communities.CONCLUSIONS:
This study describes a pathway to better healthcare outcomes for Aboriginal Australians by providing insights into ways to improve access.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
/
Health Services, Indigenous
Type of study:
Qualitative_research
Aspects:
Equity_inequality
/
Implementation_research
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Environ Res Public Health
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: