148214 - development and initial evaluation.pdf (657.06 kB)
Development and initial evaluation of a nurse-led healthcare clinic for homeless and at-risk populations in Tasmania, Australia: A Collaborative initiative
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 04:44 authored by Grace Bennett-DalyGrace Bennett-Daly, Maria UnwinMaria Unwin, Thi Thuy Ha DinhThi Thuy Ha Dinh, Michele DowlmanMichele Dowlman, Leigh HarknessLeigh Harkness, Laidlaw, J, Kathleen ToriKathleen ToriPeople who are homeless experience significantly poorer health than the general population and often face multifaceted challenges engaging with public healthcare services. Mission Health Nurse-led Clinic (MHNC) was established in 2019 to meet the healthcare needs of this marginalised population in Launceston, Tasmania. This study examines barriers to healthcare access amongst individuals who experience homelessness, client and staff perceptions of the MHNC services and explored opportunities for service expansion. Descriptive statistics were drawn from administrative data, and all interviews were thematically analysed. A total of 426 presentations were reported for 174 individuals experiencing homelessness over 26 months. The median client age was 42 years and 60.9% were male; A total of 38.5% were homeless or lived in a supported accommodation. The predominant reasons for clinic visits included prescription requests (25.3%) and immunisations (20.1%). A total of 10 clients and 5 City Mission staff were interviewed with three themes emerging from the findings: personal vulnerability, disconnectedness and acceptability of the MHNC. The MHNC services were reported to be highly appreciated by all clients. Mental health and allied health, extra operating hours and maintaining the flexibility of walk-in appointments were suggested as expansion areas for the service and were highlighted as ways to increase engagement for improved health outcomes. Continued partnerships with interprofessional primary healthcare providers would contribute to addressing unmet healthcare needs in this vulnerable population.
Funding
Rosemary Bryant Foundation
History
Publication title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthVolume
18Issue
23Article number
12770Number
12770Pagination
1-15ISSN
1660-4601Department/School
School of NursingPublisher
MDPIPlace of publication
SwitzerlandRights statement
Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Repository Status
- Open