Shared medical appointments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Health
• Primary Care
• Health Service Delivery

Background:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes are significantly poorer than other Australian populations.
• Limited access to healthcare services is a contributing factor to these disparities.
• Shared medical appointments (SMAs) are proposed as a culturally appropriate intervention to improve access and quality of primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptability and appropriateness of SMAs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men within a primary care setting.
• To assess patient and healthcare provider perspectives on SMAs.

Main Methods:

• Three SMA sessions were conducted at an Aboriginal men's health centre.
• Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) received training in SMA facilitation.
• Mixed methods, including patient and provider satisfaction surveys and outcome assessments, were employed.

Main Results:

• Patient satisfaction with SMAs was overwhelmingly positive, with increasing participation over time.
• Participants valued the 'yarn up' (discussion) and peer support aspects, finding SMAs less intimidating than individual GP consultations.
• Trained AHWs viewed SMAs as a method to enhance cultural competence and service accessibility.

Conclusions:

• While not generalizable, findings suggest SMAs are a culturally safe and appropriate model for improving primary care access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• SMAs may help overcome barriers associated with traditional healthcare models.