Rural residents' utilisation of health and visiting specialist health services
S L Rankin1, W Hughes-Anderson, J House
1University Department of Surgery, QEII Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia. gbowles@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Introduction And Objectives:
The purpose of the study was to identify the demographic and health service characteristics impacting on rural residents' utilisation of health and visiting specialist services in Western Australia.
Method:
Focus group discussions were held with an age-stratified, randomly selected group of forty-eight residents in four rural Western Australian towns between May and June 2000.
Results:
Discussions revealed a preference to use local health services for basic care and to travel for the treatment of major or severe illnesses. The focus group participants supported visiting specialist services, indicating a willingness to use them for consultations, diagnostic and minor procedures. Utilisation of visiting services was conditional on the provision of information on specialist reputation, service outcomes, integration of the service into local facilities, and recommendation by the local general practitioner.
Conclusion:
Numerous factors influence the service-seeking behaviour of rural patients. These factors need to be recognised and considered in the design and promotion of resident and visiting specialist services if the migration for health care is to be rationalised.
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