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Complex health service needs for people who are homeless
journal contribution
posted on 2011-11-09, 00:00 authored by G Moore, Elizabeth ManiasElizabeth Manias, M F GerdtzBACKGROUND: Homeless people face many challenges in accessing and utilising health services to obtain psychosocial supports offered in hospital and community settings. The complex nature of health issues is compounded by lack of accessibility to services and lack of appropriate and safe housing. OBJECTIVE: To examine the perceptions and experiences of homeless people in relation to their health service needs as well as those of service providers involved with their care. DESIGN: A purposive sampling approach was undertaken with a thematic framework analysis of semi-structured interviews. Participants. Interviews were undertaken with 20 homeless people who accessed the emergency department in an acute hospital in Melbourne, Australia and 27 service providers involved in hospital and community care. RESULTS: Six key themes were identified from interviews: complexity of care needs, respect for homeless people and co-workers, engagement as a key strategy in continued care, lack of after-hour services, lack of appropriate accommodation and complexity of services. CONCLUSIONS: Findings revealed the complex and diverse nature of health concerns in homeless people. The demand on hospital services continues to increase and unless government policies take into consideration the psychosocial demands of the communities most vulnerable people efforts to divert hospital demand will continue to fail.
History
Journal
Australian health reviewVolume
35Issue
4Pagination
480 - 485Publisher
CSIROLocation
Clayton, Vic.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0156-5788eISSN
1449-8944Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2011, AHHAUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
emergency carehealthcare service useservice providersAdultAgedFemaleHealth ServicesHealth Services Needs and DemandHomeless PersonsHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedNew South WalesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineHealth Care Sciences & ServicesHealth Policy & ServicesCAREPERCEPTIONS
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