Feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of Australia
Abstract Background Patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds often face difficulties in accessing health and social care services. This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of involving community health workers (CHWs) as bilingual community navigators (BCNs)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09514-4 |
| _version_ | 1797453419044143104 |
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| author | Sabuj Kanti Mistry Elizabeth Harris Xue Li Mark F. Harris |
| author_facet | Sabuj Kanti Mistry Elizabeth Harris Xue Li Mark F. Harris |
| author_sort | Sabuj Kanti Mistry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds often face difficulties in accessing health and social care services. This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of involving community health workers (CHWs) as bilingual community navigators (BCNs) in general practice setting, to help patients from CALD backgrounds access health and social care services in Australia. Methods This research was conducted in two general practices in Sydney where most patients are from specific CALD backgrounds (Chinese in one practice and Samoan in other). Three CHWs trained as BCNs were placed in these practices to help patients access health and social care service. A mixed-method design was followed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention including analysis of a record of services provided by BCNs and post-intervention qualitative interviews with patients, practice staff and BCNs exploring the feasibility and acceptability of the BCNs’ role. The record was analyzed using descriptive statistics and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results BCNs served a total of 95 patients, providing help with referral to other services (52.6%), information about appointments (46.3%), local resources (12.6%) or available social benefits (23.2%). Most patients received one service from BCNs with the average duration of appointments being half an hour. Overall, BCNs fitted in well within the practices and patients as well as staff of participating practices accepted them well. Their role was facilitated by patients’ felt need for and acceptance of BCNs’ services, recruitment of BCNs from the patient community, as well as BCNs’ training and motivation for their role. Major barriers for patients to access BCNs’ services included lack of awareness of the BCNs’ roles among some patients and practice staff, unavailability of information about local culture specific services, and inadequate time and health system knowledge by BCNs. Limited funding support and the short timeframe of the project were major limitations of the project. Conclusion BCNs’ placement in general practice was feasible and acceptable to patients and staff in these practices. This first step needs to be followed by accredited training, development of the workforce and establishing systems for supervision in order to sustain the program. Future research is needed on the extension of the intrevention to other practices and culture groups. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:22:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87d42be8e5984051a85365c9684f4033 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:22:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-87d42be8e5984051a85365c9684f40332023-11-26T12:44:30ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-05-0123111310.1186/s12913-023-09514-4Feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of AustraliaSabuj Kanti Mistry0Elizabeth Harris1Xue Li2Mark F. Harris3Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South WalesCentre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South WalesCentre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South WalesCentre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South WalesAbstract Background Patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds often face difficulties in accessing health and social care services. This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of involving community health workers (CHWs) as bilingual community navigators (BCNs) in general practice setting, to help patients from CALD backgrounds access health and social care services in Australia. Methods This research was conducted in two general practices in Sydney where most patients are from specific CALD backgrounds (Chinese in one practice and Samoan in other). Three CHWs trained as BCNs were placed in these practices to help patients access health and social care service. A mixed-method design was followed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention including analysis of a record of services provided by BCNs and post-intervention qualitative interviews with patients, practice staff and BCNs exploring the feasibility and acceptability of the BCNs’ role. The record was analyzed using descriptive statistics and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results BCNs served a total of 95 patients, providing help with referral to other services (52.6%), information about appointments (46.3%), local resources (12.6%) or available social benefits (23.2%). Most patients received one service from BCNs with the average duration of appointments being half an hour. Overall, BCNs fitted in well within the practices and patients as well as staff of participating practices accepted them well. Their role was facilitated by patients’ felt need for and acceptance of BCNs’ services, recruitment of BCNs from the patient community, as well as BCNs’ training and motivation for their role. Major barriers for patients to access BCNs’ services included lack of awareness of the BCNs’ roles among some patients and practice staff, unavailability of information about local culture specific services, and inadequate time and health system knowledge by BCNs. Limited funding support and the short timeframe of the project were major limitations of the project. Conclusion BCNs’ placement in general practice was feasible and acceptable to patients and staff in these practices. This first step needs to be followed by accredited training, development of the workforce and establishing systems for supervision in order to sustain the program. Future research is needed on the extension of the intrevention to other practices and culture groups.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09514-4Access to health and social careCulturally and linguistically diverseBilingual community navigatorGeneral practiceFeasibility and acceptability |
| spellingShingle | Sabuj Kanti Mistry Elizabeth Harris Xue Li Mark F. Harris Feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of Australia BMC Health Services Research Access to health and social care Culturally and linguistically diverse Bilingual community navigator General practice Feasibility and acceptability |
| title | Feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of Australia |
| title_full | Feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of Australia |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of Australia |
| title_short | Feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of Australia |
| title_sort | feasibility and acceptability of involving bilingual community navigators to improve access to health and social care services in general practice setting of australia |
| topic | Access to health and social care Culturally and linguistically diverse Bilingual community navigator General practice Feasibility and acceptability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09514-4 |
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