Journal
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE
Volume 47, Issue 1-2, Pages 44-48Publisher
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
DOI: 10.31128/AFP-05-17-4201
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Spinnaker Health Research Foundation, Fremantle, Western Australia
- University of Notre Dame Collaborative Research Network (CRN) program from the Australian Government
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background and objective People who are homeless or marginalised have poor engagement with mainstream healthcare services. The aim of this study was to explore patient and staff perspectives of a street-based, primary health service, to help identify factors influencing patient access and management. Methods A qualitative study was undertaken from April to September 2016. Interviews (n = 27) explored patients' experiences of accessing healthcare services. Interviews with allied service staff (n = 5) explored referral pathways and patients access to healthcare. Results Factors influencing patients willingness to access primary healthcare through the street health service were identified as doctor-patient empathy, better understanding of patient circumstances, fostering of social capital, facilitating referral pathways and supporting the transition to mainstream general practice as circumstances improve. Hospital discharge planning and followup management were identified as gaps in the continuity of service. Discussion Ease of access provided by a streetbased health service facilitates access to the healthcare system for homeless and marginalised patients.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available