Crossland, Lisa Jayne (2011) Perceptions of the roles and skills of primary health care professionals: implications for innovative and sustainable rural primary health care delivery. PhD thesis, James Cook University.

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Abstract

A report completed by the Australian National Hospital and Health Care Reform Commission made recommendations for reform of the primary health care system, including the need to ensure health care organisation is underpinned by the inclusion of the views of all Australians and the sustainability of rural service delivery through innovative workforce models. Previous research has concluded that it is unrealistic to introduce new approaches to health care delivery, particularly in relation to workforce reform, without first understanding how patients perceive the current roles of primary health care professionals. This study explores the perceptions patients have of their rural primary health care professionals and explores the impact of this in relation to innovative approaches to achieve sustainable rural primary health care delivery.

Aims and objectives: The key aim of this study is to explore individual patient perceptions of existing primary health care professionals (general practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals and ambulance paramedics) in four discrete rural and remote service locations (RRMA 5-7). The services represent the four main variants of primary health care delivery in north Queensland and include both GP and non-GP led models of care. The objectives are the identification and investigation of:

(i) individual patient perceptions of existing health care professionals; and the perceptions of the PHC professionals themselves, in four rural communities;

(ii) broad differences and similarities between rural patients' perceptions of PHC professionals and the key factors that contribute to these differences (with particular focus on the role of patient experience and the context of service delivery);

(iii) patient perceptions of the broad archetypal views of the health care professions; and

(iv) how these perceptions may impact on the development and introduction of innovative approaches to primary health care delivery.

Methods: The study design has two stages: (i) development of detailed case study profiles for each of four health care services and rural communities; including in-depth interviews with a total of 16 primary health care professionals; and (ii) in-depth semi-structured interviews with 43 patients. Stage two is informed by findings from a review of the national and international literature relating to patient perceptions. Interviews explore perceptions of health care professionals from patients' 'lived experiences' of these roles. In addition, patient perceptions of primary health care profession stereotypes are also investigated.

An adapted organisational change theory approach is used as the theoretical basis for data analysis. Data are managed using QSR NVivo7 software and emergent themes relating to patient perceptions of their primary health care professionals are compared and contrasted across all interviews. Findings are then explored in the context of the case study profiles.

Item ID:	24062
Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Keywords:	allied health professionals; ambulance paramedics; case study profiles; community health care; doctors; essential health care; general practitioners; GPs; health profession stereotypes; healthcare; innovation; innovative health care; interviews; North Queensland; nurses; patient experience; patient opinions; patient perceptions; patient views; PHC; practice nursing; primary health care delivery; primary health care professionals; primary health care services; primary health care workers; primary health care; regional Australia; remote communities; rural communities; sustainability; sustainable health care; workforce planning
Date Deposited:	04 Dec 2012 04:36
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111717 Primary Health Care @ 33% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111708 Health and Community Services @ 34% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 33%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920299 Health and Support Services not elsewhere classified @ 50% 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920506 Rural Health @ 50%
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