The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups
Abstract Background Young people (12–24 years) visit general practice but may not have a ‘regular’ general practitioner (GP). Whether continuity of GP care influences experiences with, and barriers to, health care among young people is unknown. This paper explores the association between having a re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01294-8 |
| _version_ | 1818120431631073280 |
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| author | Melissa Kang Fiona Robards Georgina Luscombe Lena Sanci Tim Usherwood |
| author_facet | Melissa Kang Fiona Robards Georgina Luscombe Lena Sanci Tim Usherwood |
| author_sort | Melissa Kang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Young people (12–24 years) visit general practice but may not have a ‘regular’ general practitioner (GP). Whether continuity of GP care influences experiences with, and barriers to, health care among young people is unknown. This paper explores the association between having a regular GP and experience of healthcare barriers and attitudes to health system navigation among young people in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods This study was a cross-sectional survey administered either online or face-to-face in community settings. Young people living in NSW were recruited, with oversampling of those from five socio-culturally marginalised groups (those who were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, homeless, of refugee background, in rural or remote locations, sexuality and/or gender diverse). In this analysis of a larger dataset, we examined associations between having a regular GP, demographic and health status variables, barriers to health care and attitudes to health system navigation, using chi-square tests and odds ratios. Content and thematic analyses were applied to free-text responses to explore young people’s views about having a regular GP. Results One thousand four hundred and sixteen young people completed the survey between 2016 and 2017. Of these, 81.1% had seen a GP in the previous 6 months and 57.8% had a regular GP. Cost was the most frequently cited barrier (45.8%) to accessing health care generally. Those with a regular GP were less likely to cite cost and other structural barriers, feeling judged, and not knowing which service to go to. Having a regular GP was associated with having more positive attitudes to health system navigation. Free-text responses provided qualitative insights, including the importance of building a relationship with one GP. Conclusions General practice is the appropriate setting for preventive health care and care coordination. Having a regular GP is associated with fewer barriers and more positive attitudes to health system navigation and may provide better engagement with and coordination of care. Strategies are needed to increase the proportion of young people who have a regular GP. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:25:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd01557825d84864a2add5e2a686627c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:25:59Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd01557825d84864a2add5e2a686627c2022-12-22T01:19:34ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962020-10-012111910.1186/s12875-020-01294-8The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groupsMelissa Kang0Fiona Robards1Georgina Luscombe2Lena Sanci3Tim Usherwood4Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research, University of Technology SydneyDepartment of General Practice, The University of Sydney, Westmead Clinical SchoolSchool of Rural Health, The University of SydneyDepartment of General Practice, University of MelbourneDepartment of General Practice, The University of Sydney, Westmead Clinical SchoolAbstract Background Young people (12–24 years) visit general practice but may not have a ‘regular’ general practitioner (GP). Whether continuity of GP care influences experiences with, and barriers to, health care among young people is unknown. This paper explores the association between having a regular GP and experience of healthcare barriers and attitudes to health system navigation among young people in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods This study was a cross-sectional survey administered either online or face-to-face in community settings. Young people living in NSW were recruited, with oversampling of those from five socio-culturally marginalised groups (those who were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, homeless, of refugee background, in rural or remote locations, sexuality and/or gender diverse). In this analysis of a larger dataset, we examined associations between having a regular GP, demographic and health status variables, barriers to health care and attitudes to health system navigation, using chi-square tests and odds ratios. Content and thematic analyses were applied to free-text responses to explore young people’s views about having a regular GP. Results One thousand four hundred and sixteen young people completed the survey between 2016 and 2017. Of these, 81.1% had seen a GP in the previous 6 months and 57.8% had a regular GP. Cost was the most frequently cited barrier (45.8%) to accessing health care generally. Those with a regular GP were less likely to cite cost and other structural barriers, feeling judged, and not knowing which service to go to. Having a regular GP was associated with having more positive attitudes to health system navigation. Free-text responses provided qualitative insights, including the importance of building a relationship with one GP. Conclusions General practice is the appropriate setting for preventive health care and care coordination. Having a regular GP is associated with fewer barriers and more positive attitudes to health system navigation and may provide better engagement with and coordination of care. Strategies are needed to increase the proportion of young people who have a regular GP.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01294-8AdolescentsHealth services accessibilityHealth equityGeneral practicePrimary health careContinuity of patient care |
| spellingShingle | Melissa Kang Fiona Robards Georgina Luscombe Lena Sanci Tim Usherwood The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups BMC Family Practice Adolescents Health services accessibility Health equity General practice Primary health care Continuity of patient care |
| title | The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups |
| title_full | The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups |
| title_short | The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups |
| title_sort | relationship between having a regular general practitioner gp and the experience of healthcare barriers a cross sectional study among young people in nsw australia with oversampling from marginalised groups |
| topic | Adolescents Health services accessibility Health equity General practice Primary health care Continuity of patient care |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-020-01294-8 |
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