10.25905/5c3fdeccf2d41
Deborah van Gaans
Deborah van
Gaans
Elsa Dent
Elsa
Dent
Issues of Accessibility to Health Services by Older Australians: A Review
Torrens University Australia
2019
Accessibility
Aged
Older people
Health services
Public health
Equity
Aged Health Care
2019-01-17 01:47:55
Journal contribution
https://torrens.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Issues_of_Accessibility_to_Health_Services_by_Older_Australians_A_Review/7597661
<p><b>Background</b></p>
<p>This review provides an in-depth investigation into the difficulties
facing older Australians when accessing health care services.</p>
<p><b>Methods</b></p>
<p>A literature search was conducted in December 2016 using Academic
Premier to identify relevant publications. Key search terms were accessibility,
health service, older people and Australia. Papers published between 1999 and
2016 were included. Statements of accessibility were extracted and then grouped
using the five dimensions of accessibility by Penchansky and Thomas (1981):
availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability and acceptability.</p>
<p><b>Results</b></p>
<p>Forty-one papers were included. Availability issues identified were
inadequate health care services, particularly for culturally and linguistically
diverse (CALD) populations and those residing in rural areas. Accessibility
issues included difficulties accessing transport to health care services, which
in turn restricted choice of appointment time. Issues of accommodation
identified were long waiting times for appointments with both general
practitioners and medical specialists. Affordability was a common problem,
compounded by multi-morbidity requiring high health care use. Issues of
acceptability centred on the role of the family, feelings of shame when
receiving care from a non-family member, traditional practices and gender
sensitivity.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions</b></p>
<p>The contribution of factors to health service accessibility varies
according to an older person’s geographical local and their accessibility to
transport, as well as their level of multi-morbidity and cultural background.
Improving access to health services could be improved by matching services to
the population that they serve.</p>
<p>Public Health Reviews 2018 <strong>39</strong>:20</p>