TY - JOUR
KW - Delivery of Health Care
KW - General Practitioners
KW - Humans
KW - Methamphetamine
KW - Primary Health Care
KW - Rural Population
AU - B. Ward
AU - R. Lane
AU - B. Quinn
AU - G. Russell
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: General practice is the most common source of healthcare for people who use methamphetamine. The aim of this study was to explore primary care providers' understandings of access to and service utilisation by this group. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with general practitioners, practice nurses and alcohol and other drug service providers from two large towns in rural Victoria. RESULTS: Participants (n = 8) reported that availability (workforce shortages, time, complex clinician-client relationships), acceptability (stigma) and appropriateness of care (skill mix, referral networks, models of care) were associated with access to care for this population. Affordability of care was not perceived to be of concern. DISCUSSION: Availability of care is not enough to ensure utilisation and improved health outcomes among consumers who use methamphetamine. Provision of services to this group and to other substance-using populations requires the right 'skill mix' across and within healthcare organisations.
AD - PhD, Associate Professor, School of Rural Health, Monash University, Vic; Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Vic.; PhD, Research Fellow, Department of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Vic.; PhD, Research Fellow, Behaviours and Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Vic; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Vic.; MBBS, FRACGP, MFM, PhD, Professor, Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Monash University, Vic; Director, Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Vic; Chair, Editorial Advisory Committee, Australian Journal of General Practice.
BT - Australian journal of general practice
C5 - Education & Workforce; Opioids & Substance Use
CP - 7
CY - Australia
DO - 10.31128/AJGP-07-20-5550
IS - 7
JF - Australian journal of general practice
LA - eng
M1 - Journal Article
N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: General practice is the most common source of healthcare for people who use methamphetamine. The aim of this study was to explore primary care providers' understandings of access to and service utilisation by this group. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with general practitioners, practice nurses and alcohol and other drug service providers from two large towns in rural Victoria. RESULTS: Participants (n = 8) reported that availability (workforce shortages, time, complex clinician-client relationships), acceptability (stigma) and appropriateness of care (skill mix, referral networks, models of care) were associated with access to care for this population. Affordability of care was not perceived to be of concern. DISCUSSION: Availability of care is not enough to ensure utilisation and improved health outcomes among consumers who use methamphetamine. Provision of services to this group and to other substance-using populations requires the right 'skill mix' across and within healthcare organisations.
PP - Australia
PY - 2021
SN - 2208-7958
SP - 505
EP - 510
EP - 
T1 - Qualitative understandings of access to primary care services for consumers who use methamphetamine
T2 - Australian journal of general practice
TI - Qualitative understandings of access to primary care services for consumers who use methamphetamine
U1 - Education & Workforce; Opioids & Substance Use
U2 - 34189551
U3 - 10.31128/AJGP-07-20-5550
VL - 50
VO - 2208-7958
Y1 - 2021
Y2 - Jul
ER -