Western Australia remote aeromedical substance use disorders outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Substance use disorders (SUDs) cause significant harm to regional Australians, who are more likely to misuse alcohol and other drugs (AODs) and encounter difficulty in accessing treatment services. The primary aims of this study were to describe the demographics of patients aeromedically retrieved from regional locations and compare hospital outcomes with a metropolitan-based cohort. AIMS: Retrospective case-controlled cohort study. Participants were aeromedically retrieved within Western Australia for SUDs between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2019. Retrieved patients were case-matched based on age and hospital discharge diagnosis. Descriptive statistics and χ2 analysis were used to summarise the findings. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-six (91.3%) aeromedical retrievals were found, with the majority being male (n = 95; 69.9%). These were case-matched to 427 metropolitan patients, the majority male (n = 321; 75.2%). Retrieved patients were more likely (all P < 0.05) Indigenous (odds ratio [OR], 9.35 [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.96-14.85]), unemployed (OR, 2.9 [95% CI, 1.41-6.80]), referred to a tertiary hospital (OR, 2.18 [95% CI, 1.24-3.86]) and to stay longer in hospital (OR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02-1.14]). DISCUSSION: Findings highlight that unmarried and/or unemployed males were overrepresented in the retrieval group, with over half identifying as Indigenous. Regional variation in retrievals was noted, while amphetamine-type stimulants featured prominently in the retrieval cohort, who experienced longer hospital stays and more restrictive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing clinical outcomes for retrieved regional patients experiencing SUDs, service design and delivery should focus on offering culturally safe care for Indigenous people, catering for regional health care catchment areas, while ideally adopting collaborative and integrated approaches between AODs and mental health services.

Remoteness and socioeconomic status reduce access to specialist mental health care across Australia.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate impact of socioeconomic factors and remoteness from tertiary hospital on incidence/duration of Australian mental health admissions. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of incidence/duration of public mental health unit admissions (2018-19). Covariates included Indigenous population, potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH) and socioeconomic disadvantage. RESULTS: Regional distance from hospital was correlated with socioeconomic disadvantage (ρ: p < 0.01). Population identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander was associated with distance from hospital, socioeconomic disadvantage and PPH (ρ: p < 0.01). Bed days per capita was explained (R2adj: 0.48) by distance and socioeconomic disadvantage (p < 0.0001). A 1% increase in distance from hospital was associated with a 0.37% decrease in per capita bed days. Admission rate per capita across Queensland and WA was explained (R2adj: 0.36) by distance, education/occupation and state (p < 0.05). Across Queensland and WA a 1% increase in distance from hospital was associated with a 0.05% decreased incidence of admission. CONCLUSIONS: Rural Australians face high mental illness burden, socioeconomic disadvantage and limited service provision. Overcoming the additional disadvantages of reduced likelihood of admission to and reduced time in hospital with increasing distance from hospital will require increased outreach proportional to remoteness.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Initiation of Helicopter Video Simulation Orientation Training for Air Medical Crews in Western Australia: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: In May 2022, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations in Western Australia pioneered the introduction of the first organizational helicopter emergency service with 2 Eurocopter EC145 helicopters. This article describes the pilot study undertaken, assessing the implementation and flight crew confidence outcomes of the supplementation of video simulation training to standard clinical training for helicopter air medical retrieval. METHODS: Survey assessments using a 5-point Likert scale provided anonymous demographic data with summarized results of the means and standard deviations. Nonparametric tests were used to compare responses between the control and experimental groups from pretraining to postintervention to postpractical. RESULTS: The findings showed an increase in confidence rates after a classroom session and further increases after a practical session in the control group. The intervention group showed a small rise in overall confidence levels after being shown video simulations following the completion of their classroom session before commencing their practical session. This study established that regardless of the airframe, clinical staff, often with significant experience in air medical retrieval and critical care medicine, do not automatically have confidence in performing critical care procedures in a new aircraft type to which they have not previously been oriented. The results display a statistically significant increase in confidence levels in procedural performance after the classroom session compared with the pretraining questionnaire, with a subtle further rise when video simulations are included in the classroom session. When a classroom session is subsequently supplemented with a practical simulation session, confidence levels continue to rise. CONCLUSION: Implementing a comprehensive educational strategy including classroom and practical elements for clinical staff in their orientation to new aircraft improves their confidence in performing critical care procedures if required in flight. The addition of in-flight prerecorded videos demonstrating these critical care procedures is a useful adjunct to simulation training for flight crew in air medical retrieval, and further analytical studies may indeed show a statistically significant improvement in staff confidence.

Remote mental health clients prefer face-to-face consultations to telehealth during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To guide the efficient and effective provision of mental health services to clients in Central West and Far North Queensland, we surveyed preferences for face-to-face or in-person contact. METHODS: A clinician-designed survey of contact preferences was offered to 248 clients of mental health services in Far North and Central West Queensland in mid-2020. With the onset of COVID-19, the survey was modified to measure the impact of the pandemic. RESULTS: Just over half of the services' clients participated in the survey (50.4%), of whom more were female (63.2%). Of the participants, 46.3% in Far North and 8.6% in Central West Queensland identified as Indigenous. Strong resistance to telehealth before the pandemic across groups (76%) was moderated during COVID-19 (42.4%), an effect that appeared likely to continue past the pandemic for Central West clients (34.5%). Far North clients indicated their telehealth reluctance would return after the pandemic (77.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that remote Australians strongly prefer in-person mental health care to telehealth. Although the COVID-19 pandemic increased acceptance of telehealth across regions while social distancing continued, there was evidence that Indigenous Australians were more likely to prefer in-person contact after the pandemic.

A Cohort Comparison Study on Women in Threatened Preterm Labor Given Nifedipine or Nifedipine and Salbutamol Tocolysis in Air Medical Retrieval.

OBJECTIVE: Women with threatened preterm labor in remote Australia often require tocolysis in the prevention of in-flight birth during air medical retrieval. However, debate exists over the tocolytic choice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken on data containing women who required air medical retrieval for threatened preterm labor within Western Australia between the years 2013 and 2018. RESULTS: A total number of 236 air medical retrievals were deemed suitable for inclusion; 141 received nifedipine, and 95 women received salbutamol + nifedipine. Tocolytic efficaciousness was reported in 151 cases, proportionally more (P < .05) from the women who received salbutamol + nifedipine (n = 68, 71.6%) compared with the women who received nifedipine only (n = 83, 58.9%). Those receiving salbutamol + nifedipine were more likely to suffer maternal tachycardia (n = 87 [91.6%] vs. n = 62 [44.0%]), fetal tachycardia (n = 26 [27.4%] vs. n = 13 [9.2%]), nausea (n = 17 [17.9] vs. n = 5 [3.55%]), and vomiting (n = 12 [12.6%] vs. n = 2 [1.4%]). Three women who received salbutamol + nifedipine had serious side effects including echocardiographic changes, chest pain, and metabolic and lactic acidosis. CONCLUSION: Salbutamol + nifedipine tocolysis was proven to be more effective than nifedipine only. Although salbutamol + nifedipine had increased temporary side effects, most were nonsevere and managed in-flight.

'COVID on Country': an innovative model safely supporting high-risk patients in Central Australia.

In January 2022, as the COVID pandemic reached remote communities in Central Australia, The Northern Territory Health Central Australian Regional Health Service and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) executed 'COVID on Country', a program designed to triage cases and to implement treatment and clinical review of individuals in their community without the need to be relocated to larger centres for safe provision of care. The program assessed patient factors and community/capacity factors to triage and enact pathways. Remote living people who qualified for the program or who declined aeromedical retrieval, were provided with comprehensive clinical support, including administration of intravenous sotrovimab by daily scheduled visits to all affected communities by a doctor transported on an RFDS plane. Evaluation of the program demonstrated that it was a safe and effective way to provide complex care in a culturally safe manner.

Characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients requiring aeromedical retrieval for pregnancy, compared to non-retrieved metropolitan cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Limited access to obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) services in rural and remote Australia is believed to contribute to suboptimal birth outcomes. AIMS: To describe the characteristics of pregnancy aeromedical transfers, in-hospital outcomes, and patient access to O&G services, as compared to whole of Australia data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of women who required aeromedical retrieval for pregnancy-related issues between the 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2017. RESULTS: Hospital outcome data were collected on 2171 (65.2%) mothers and 2438 (100.0%) babies. The leading retrieval reason was threatened preterm labour and delivery (n = 883; 40.7%). Most patients were retrieved from rural and remote areas (n = 2224; 93.0%). Retrieved patients were significantly younger (28.0 vs 30.0 years, 95% CI 27.7-28.3), more likely to be overweight or obese (52.2% vs 45.1%, 95% CI 47.5-56.9) and to have smoked during their pregnancy (14.0% vs 9.9%, 95% CI 12.5-15.5) compared to Australian pregnant women overall. Over one-third of transferred women gave birth by Caesarean section (n = 812; 37.4%); the median gestational age at birth was 33.0 (95% CI 32.7-33.3) weeks. Early gestation is associated with low birth weights (median = 2579.5 g; 95% CI 2536.1-2622.9), neonatal resuscitation (35.4%, 95% CI 33.5-37.3), and special care nursery admission (41.2%, 95% CI 39.3-43.2). There were 42 (1.7%, 95% CI 1.2-2.2) stillbirths, which was significantly higher than seen Australia-wide (n = 6441; 0.7%). CONCLUSION: This study found that pregnant women retrieved by the Royal Flying Doctor Service were younger, with higher rates of obesity and smoking.

Aeromedical retrieval diagnostic trends during a period of Coronavirus 2019 lockdown.

BACKGROUND: Little is known on the trends of aeromedical retrieval (AR) during social isolation. AIM: To compare the pre, lockdown, and post-lockdown AR patient characteristics during a period of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) social isolation. METHODS: An observational study with retrospective data collection, consisting of AR between 26 January and 23 June 2020. RESULTS: There were 16 981 AR consisting of 1983 (11.7%) primary evacuations and 14 998 (88.3%) inter-hospital transfers, with a population median age of 52 years (interquartile range 29.0-69.0), with 49.0% (n = 8283) of the cohort being male and 38.0% (n = 6399) being female. There were six confirmed and 230 suspected cases of COVID-19, with the majority of cases (n = 134; 58.3%) in the social isolation period. As compared to pre-restriction, the odds of retrieval for the restriction and post-restriction period differed across time between the major diagnostic groups. This included, an increase in cardiovascular retrieval for both restriction and post-restriction periods (odds ratio (OR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.24 and OR 1.18 95%, CI 1.08-1.30 respectively), increases in neoplasm in the post restriction period (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.04-1.64) and increases for congenital conditions in the restriction period (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.39-4.71). Cardiovascular and congenital conditions had increased rates of priority 1 patients in the restriction and post restriction periods. There was a decrease in endocrine and metabolic disease retrievals in the restriction period (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.98). There were lower odds during the post-restriction period for retrievals of the respiratory system (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.67-0.93), and disease of the skin (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.6-1.0). Distribution between the 2019 and 2020 time periods differed (P < 0.05), with the lockdown period resulting in a significant reduction in activity. CONCLUSION: The lockdown period resulted in increased AR rates of circulatory and congenital conditions.

Aeromedical retrievals for gastrointestinal disorders in rural and remote Australia: the need for improved access to specialist advice.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) provides medical care to populations without access to traditional health-care services. From 2014 to 2018 the RFDS conducted 6007 (≈1201/year) aeromedical retrievals for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. More detailed research is needed to determine specific GI disorders that contributed to this caseload, and in particular inform whether the establishment of a GI specialist service is justified.

Poor access to kidney disease management services in susceptible patient populations in rural Australia is associated with increased aeromedical retrievals for acute renal care.

BACKGROUND: Inequalities in access to renal services and acute care for rural and remote populations in Australia have been described but not quantified. AIM: To describe: the coverage of renal disease management services in rural and remote Australia; and the characteristics of patients who had an aeromedical retrieval for renal disease by Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). METHODS: Data from the RFDS, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Health Direct were used to estimate provision of renal disease management services by geographic area. RFDS patient diagnostic data were prospectively collected from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: Many rural and remote areas have limited access to regular renal disease management services. Most RFDS retrievals for renal disease are from regions without such services. The RFDS conducted 1636 aeromedical retrievals for renal disease, which represented 1.6% of all retrievals. Among retrieved patients, there was a higher proportion of men than women (54.6% vs 45.4%, P < 0.01), while indigenous patients (n = 546, 33.4%) were significantly younger than non-indigenous patients (40.9 vs 58.5, P < 0.01). There were significant differences in underlying diagnoses triggering retrievals between genders, with males being more likely than females to be transferred with acute renal failure, calculus of the kidney and ureter, renal colic, obstructive uropathy, and kidney failure (all P < 0.01). Conversely, females were more likely to have chronic kidney disease, disorders of the urinary system, acute nephritic syndrome, tubulo-interstitial nephritis, and nephrotic syndrome (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Aeromedical retrievals for acute care were from rural areas without regular access to renal disease prevention or management services.

Rural and remote dental care: Patient characteristics and health care provision.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of patients who used the Royal Flying Doctor Service dental clinics and determine Royal Flying Doctor Service and non-Royal Flying Doctor Service dental service provision in mainland Australia. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: All Royal Flying Doctor Service dental clinics located throughout rural and remote Australia. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who accessed an Royal Flying Doctor Service dental clinic from April 2017 to September 2018. INTERVENTIONS: Royal Flying Doctor Service mobile dental clinics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient demographics and dental procedures conducted (by age, sex and Indigenous status); and the dental service provision and coverage (Royal Flying Doctor Service and non-Royal Flying Doctor Service) within mainland rural and remote Australia. RESULTS: There were 8992 patient episodes comprising 3407 individual patients with 27 897 services completed. There were 920 (27%) Indigenous and 1465 (43%) non-Indigenous patients (n = 1022 missing ethnicity data). The mean (SD) age was 31.5 (24.8) years; the age groups 5-9 years and 10-14 years received 17.6% and 15.1% of the services, respectively. There were 1124 (33%) men and 1295 (38%) women (n = 988 with missing sex data). Women were more likely (all P < .05) to receive preventive services, diagnostic services, restorative services, general services, endodontics and periodontics. Men were more likely (both P < .05) to receive oral surgery and prosthodontics. There are many rural and remote people required to travel more than 60 minutes by vehicle to access dental care. CONCLUSION: Without increasing dental provision and preventive services in rural areas, it seems likely that there are and will be unnecessary oral emergencies and hospitalisations.

Nurse-led psychological intervention reduces anxiety symptoms and improves quality of life following percutaneous coronary intervention for stable coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of nurse-led counselling on the anxiety symptoms and the quality of life following percutaneous coronary intervention for stable coronary artery disease. DESIGN: Randomised control trial. SETTING: Rural and remote China. PARTICIPANTS: Rural and remote patients were consecutively recruited from a medical centre located in China between January and December 2014. INTERVENTIONS: The control group received standard pre-procedure information from a ward nurse on the processes of the hospitalisation and percutaneous coronary intervention, and post-procedural care. The intervention group received a structured 30-minute counselling session the day before and 24 hours after the percutaneous coronary intervention, by nurse consultants with qualifications in psychological therapies and counselling. The health outcomes were assessed by a SF-12 scale and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire at 6 and 12 months after percutaneous coronary intervention. The anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated by a Zung anxiety and depression questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cardiac outcomes, quality of life and mental health status. RESULTS: Eighty patients were randomly divided into control (n = 40) and intervention groups (n = 40). There was a significant increase in the scores of the three domains of Seattle Angina Questionnaire 12 months after percutaneous coronary intervention in the intervention group (P < .01). The mental health and physical health scores also increased (P < .01). In the control group, the mean scores of Zung self-rating anxiety scale 12 months following percutaneous coronary intervention were higher than the baseline scores, and higher than in the intervention group (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Counselling by a clinician qualified in psychological therapies and counselling significantly reduces anxiety symptoms and improves quality of life.

Royal Flying Doctor Service Coronavirus Disease 2019 Activity and Surge Modeling in Australia.

Objective: There is a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to describe the characteristics of patients transported by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and to investigate the surge capacity of and operational implications for the RFDS in dealing with COVID-19. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. To determine the characteristics of patients transported for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, we included patient data from February 2, 2020, to May 6, 2020. To investigate the surge capacity and operational implications for the RFDS in dealing with COVID-19, we built and validated an interactive operations area-level discrete event simulation decision support model underpinned by RFDS air medical activity data from 2015 to 2019 (4 years). This model was subsequently used in a factorial in silico experiment to systematically investigate both the supply of RFDS air medical services and the increased rates of demand for these services for diseases of the respiratory system. Results: The RFDS conducted 291 patient episodes of care for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. This included 288 separate patients, including 136 men and 119 women (sex missing = 33), with a median age of 62.0 years (interquartile range, 43.5-74.9 years). The simulation decision support model we developed is capable of providing dynamic and real-time support for RFDS decision makers in understanding the system's performance under uncertain COVID-19 demand. With increased COVID-19-related demand, the ability of the RFDS to cope will be driven by the number of aircraft available. The simulation model provided each aviation section with estimated numbers of aircraft required to meet a range of anticipated demands. Conclusion: Despite the lack of certainty in the actual level of COVID-19-related demand for RFDS services, modeling demonstrates that the robustness of meeting such demand increases with the number of operational and medically staffed aircraft.

Mental Health Crises in Rural and Remote Australia: An Assessment of Direct Medical Costs of Air Medical Retrievals and the Implications for the Societal Burden.

OBJECTIVE: Adequate mental health service provision in rural and remote Australian communities is problematic because of the tyranny of distance. The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides air medical retrieval for people in rural and remote areas. The economic impact on both the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the public hospital system for mental health-related air medical retrievals is unknown. We aimed to estimate the direct medical costs associated with air medical retrievals and subsequent hospitalizations for mental and behavioral disorders for the 2017 calendar year. METHODS: All patients with a primary working diagnosis of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Version, Australian Modification F00 to F99 (mental and behavioral disorders) who underwent an air medical retrieval were included in this cost analysis. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Edition, Australian Modification codes were mapped to Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Group codes, with hospital costs applied from the National Hospital Cost Data Collection (2016/2017). All costs are reported in 2017 Australian dollars (AUDs). RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two primary evacuations and 926 interhospital transfers occurred with an in-flight diagnosis of F00 to F99, most commonly psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and schizotypal disorders. The total direct medical costs were estimated to be AUD $20,070,527. Costs for primary evacuations accounted for 13% (AUD $2,611,260), with the majority of this associated with the subsequent hospital admission (AUD $1,770,139). Similarly, the majority of the costs associated with interhospital transfers (total costs = AUD $17,459,267) were also related to hospital costs (AUD $13,569,187). CONCLUSION: Direct medical costs associated with air medical retrievals for people experiencing a mental health crisis are substantial. The majority of costs are associated with hospital admission and treatment; however, the indirect (loss of productivity) and intangible (quality of life) costs are likely to be far greater.

Mental Health Care for Rural and Remote Australians During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

The aims of this article are to comment on pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mental health activity in rural and remote Australia, including related air medical retrievals; to discuss how the current pandemic is likely to impact on this vulnerable population's mental health; and to provide potential solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant air medical activity from rural and remote Australia. COVID-19 and the necessary public health and socioeconomic interventions are likely to significantly compound mental health problems for both the general public and the mental health workforce servicing rural and remote communities. However, the COVID-19 crisis provides a window of opportunity to develop, support, and build novel and sustainable solutions to the chronic mental health service vulnerabilities in rural and remote areas in Australia and other countries.

Aeromedical retrievals of people for mental health care and the low level of clinical support in rural and remote Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise the people retrieved by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) for treatment of mental and behavioural disorders, and to assess mental health care provision in rural and remote areas. DESIGN: Prospective review of routinely collected RFDS and Health Direct data. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: RFDS aeromedical retrievals of patients from anywhere in Australia except Tasmania during 1 July 2014 - 30 June 2017 for the treatment of mental or behavioural disorders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Retrievals by ICD-10 mental and behavioural disorder diagnoses. RESULTS: 2257 patients were retrieved by the RFDS for treatment of mental or behavioural disorders, including 1394 males (62%) and 863 females (38%); 60% of patients were under 40 years of age, 35% identified as Indigenous Australians. The most frequent mental and behavioural disorders were schizophrenia (227 retrievals, 16.5% of retrievals with ICD diagnoses), bipolar affective disorder (185, 13.5%), and depressive episodes (153, 11.2%). Psychoactive substance misuse triggered 194 retrievals (14.2%), including misuse of multiple drugs (85, 6.2%), alcohol (61, 4.5%), and cannabinoids (25, 1.8%). The mean age of patients retrieved for treatment of substance misuse (29.6 years; SD, 11.6 years) was lower than for retrieved patients overall (37.0 years; SD, 19.3 years); 38 of 194 patients retrieved after psychoactive substance misuse (19.6%) were under 19 years of age. Most retrieval sites were rural and remote communities with low levels of mental health care support. CONCLUSION: Mental and behavioural disorders are an important problem in rural and remote communities, and acute presentations trigger a considerable number of RFDS retrievals.

A nurse-led structured education program improves self-management skills and reduces hospital readmissions in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized and controlled trial in China.

INTRODUCTION: Patient self-management skills are an important part of heart failure (HF) management. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of nurse-led education on patient self-management and the associated clinical outcomes of rural Chinese patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). As such, this study was designed to evaluate the impact of a nurse-led education program on patient self-management and hospital readmissions in rural Chinese patients with CHF. METHODS: Ninety-six patients in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong with CHF were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. A structured education program was delivered to the intervention group during hospitalization and after discharge. Control group patients were managed as per clinical guidelines without structured education. Medication adherence, dietary modifications, social support, and symptom control were assessed 12 months after the educational intervention. RESULTS: The mean score of medication adherence, dietary modifications, social support and symptom control in the intervention group was higher than in the control group at the end of the study (p<0.01). The readmission rates for HF in the intervention and control group were 10.4% and 27.1%, respectively (p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that a structured education program was associated with a significant improvement in medication adherence, dietary modifications, social support, and symptom control in rural CHF patients. Furthermore, this program was associated with a significant reduction in hospital readmission. This study indicates that implementation of a nurse-led education program improves self-management and clinical outcomes of rural CHF patients, who may not have regular access to cardiac management services as per metropolitan populations.

Culturally appropriate psychotherapy and its retention: An example from Far North Queensland (Australia).

BACKGROUND: Culturally appropriate mental health care is essential in remote Australia. However, while associated with the development of an effective therapeutic alliance, current literature insufficiently reports the retention and psychotherapy outcomes of Indigenous adults. We aimed to describe the characteristics and retention of clients attending the Far North Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (FNS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study on clients who received one or more psychotherapy consultations between 1st July 2019 and 31st December 2020. Population, entrance, and treatment characteristics were described, with retention compared between the major cultural groups. Entrance characteristics comprised referral pathway and reason for presentation and were investigated as alternative predictors of client retention. FINDINGS: There were 186 non-Indigenous (68.3 % female) and 174 Indigenous (62.6 % female) clients, with a median number of 3.0 consultations (IQR 2.0-5.3). Indigenous status did not significantly predict retention. Referral pathway significantly predicted the number of consultations (Wald X2(6) = 17.67, p = .0071) and immediate discontinuation (Wald X2(6) = 12.94, p = .044), with self-referred clients having the highest retention. Initial presentation reason significantly predicted the number of consultations (Wald X2(5) = 13.83, p = .017), with clients with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances having the lowest retention. Significantly more Indigenous clients presented for this reason (20.1 % vs 4.3 %). INTERPRETATION: Comparable retention of Indigenous clients suggests cultural appropriateness of the psychotherapy being delivered by the FNS. Services might use the described therapeutic approach as a guide for culturally appropriate care.