TY - JOUR
AU - M. Harris
AU - C. Tapp
AU - L. K. Le
AU - J. Faller
AU - B. Bassilios
AU - P. Burgess
AU - M. L. Chatterton
AU - P. Chondros
AU - K. Scurrah
AU - M. J. Spittal
AU - C. Mihalopoulos
AU - J. Gunn
AU - J. Pirkis
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVE: To describe characteristics, service use and clinical changes among people who received treatment through Australia's Better Access programme. METHODS: We re-analysed data from the usual care arms of two randomised controlled trials of tailored care approaches for depression and anxiety in primary care (Target-D, 2016-2019; Link-me, 2017-2019). Participants completed measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, quality of life and days out of role due to psychological distress over 12 months. They reported the use of mental health services from different providers/settings; from this, we classified a subset as likely Better Access treatment users. RESULTS: Of 394 Target-D and 547 Link-me participants, one-third were classified as having used Better Access treatment sessions over 12 months. They used five to seven Better Access sessions on average; half to two-thirds paid out-of-pocket costs (median $78-$89 per session). The number of Better Access sessions and other mental health services they used increased with severity of mental health problems. At baseline, Better Access treatment users reported more severe symptoms and more days out of role than those who used other or no mental health services, and poorer quality of life than those who used no services. Approximately half (43-55%) of Better Access treatment users showed improvements in mental health over 12 months. Among those with severe problems, improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms were associated with using 5+ Better Access sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Better Access treatment is used by people with different levels of mental health need. Many experience improvements in their mental health and functioning.
AD - School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.; Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.; Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.; Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
AN - 41777038
BT - Aust N Z J Psychiatry
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
CP - 1_suppl
DA - Mar
DO - 10.1177/00048674251406028
DP - NLM
ET - 20260303
IS - 1_suppl
JF - Aust N Z J Psychiatry
LA - eng
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To describe characteristics, service use and clinical changes among people who received treatment through Australia's Better Access programme. METHODS: We re-analysed data from the usual care arms of two randomised controlled trials of tailored care approaches for depression and anxiety in primary care (Target-D, 2016-2019; Link-me, 2017-2019). Participants completed measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, quality of life and days out of role due to psychological distress over 12 months. They reported the use of mental health services from different providers/settings; from this, we classified a subset as likely Better Access treatment users. RESULTS: Of 394 Target-D and 547 Link-me participants, one-third were classified as having used Better Access treatment sessions over 12 months. They used five to seven Better Access sessions on average; half to two-thirds paid out-of-pocket costs (median $78-$89 per session). The number of Better Access sessions and other mental health services they used increased with severity of mental health problems. At baseline, Better Access treatment users reported more severe symptoms and more days out of role than those who used other or no mental health services, and poorer quality of life than those who used no services. Approximately half (43-55%) of Better Access treatment users showed improvements in mental health over 12 months. Among those with severe problems, improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms were associated with using 5+ Better Access sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Better Access treatment is used by people with different levels of mental health need. Many experience improvements in their mental health and functioning.
PY - 2026
SN - 0004-8674 (Print); 0004-8674
SP - 61
EP - 73+
ST - Who uses Better Access treatment services? A re-analysis of data from the usual care arms of two randomised controlled trials
T1 - Who uses Better Access treatment services? A re-analysis of data from the usual care arms of two randomised controlled trials
T2 - Aust N Z J Psychiatry
TI - Who uses Better Access treatment services? A re-analysis of data from the usual care arms of two randomised controlled trials
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1177/00048674251406028
VL - 60
VO - 0004-8674 (Print); 0004-8674
Y1 - 2026
ER -