Journal article
Factors associated with choice of health service delivery for after-hours, urgent, non-life-threatening conditions: a patient survey
Australian Journal of Primary Health, Vol.28(2), pp.137-142
01/02/2022
PMID: 35101165
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
Metrics
14 Record Views
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with patient or carer choice of presentation to an emergency department, an urgent care clinic and an after-hours general practice on Sundays in south-east Queensland. The design of the study was a cross-sectional survey of patients or carers. The study setting was an emergency department, an urgent care clinic and an after-hours general practice. Patients or carers of patients were invited to take part in the study while they were waiting to consult the doctor. Patients were more likely to present to community clinics (i.e. urgent care clinic and an after-hours general practice) if they usually came to the facility (P < 0.001), were concerned about cost (P < 0.001), were influenced by the perceived severity of the sickness (P < 0.001), were unable to get an appointment elsewhere (P < 0.001), thought that there would be less waiting time (P < 0.001) and thought there was better doctor explanation (P = 0.007). This research was limited to 337 surveys. Larger studies could further explore insights gained from this study. The results suggest that public health campaigns could focus on promoting community clinic care for urgent non-life-threatening conditions. These campaigns should include information on waiting times, need for referral, conditions safely managed, range of services provided and quality of service. Designing community facilities for hospital avoidance of patients with non-life-threatening urgent conditions could involve public health campaigns, facility upgrades, and subsidies for transport and attendance.
Details
- Title
- Factors associated with choice of health service delivery for after-hours, urgent, non-life-threatening conditions: a patient survey
- Creators
- John William Adie - University of the Sunshine CoastWayne Graham - University of the Sunshine CoastMarianne Wallis - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Australian Journal of Primary Health, Vol.28(2), pp.137-142
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Number of pages
- 6
- Identifiers
- 991013051008202368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health; Nursing
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article