BMJ Open
Volume 7, Issue 8, 2017

Access 3 project protocol: Young people and health system navigation in the digital age: A multifaceted, mixed methods study (Article) (Open Access)

Kang M.* , Robards F. , Sanci L. , Steinbeck K. , Jan S. , Hawke C. , Kong M. , Usherwood T.
  • a Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
  • b Department of General Practice, Sydney Medical School Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • c Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • d Adolescent Medicine, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • e George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • f School of Rural Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Orange, NSW, Australia
  • g Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • h Department of General Practice, Sydney Medical School Westmead, George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Background: The integration of digital technology into everyday lives of young people has become widespread. It is not known whether and how technology influences barriers and facilitators to healthcare, and whether and how young people navigate between face-to-face and virtual healthcare. To provide new knowledge essential to policy and practice, we designed a study that would explore health system access and navigation in the digital age. The study objectives are to: (1) describe experiences of young people accessing and navigating the health system in New South Wales (NSW), Australia; (2) identify barriers and facilitators to healthcare for young people and how these vary between groups; (3) describe health system inefficiencies, particularly for young people who are marginalised; (4) provide policy-relevant knowledge translation of the research data. Methods and analysis: This mixed methods study has four parts, including: (1) a cross-sectional survey of young people (12-24 years) residing in NSW, Australia; (2) a longitudinal, qualitative study of a subsample of marginalised young people (defined as young people who: identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; are experiencing homelessness; identify as sexuality and/or gender diverse; are of refugee or vulnerable migrant background; and/or live in rural or remote NSW); (3) interviews with professionals; (4) a knowledge translation forum. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approvals were sought and granted. Data collection commenced in March 2016 and will continue until June 2017. This study will gather practice and policy-relevant intelligence about contemporary experiences of young people and health services, with a unique focus on five different groups of marginalised young people, documenting their experiences over time. Access 3 will explore navigation around all levels of the health system, determine whether digital technology is integrated into this, and if so how, and will translate findings into policy-relevant recommendations. © 2017 Article author(s).

Author Keywords

youth Health services accessibility Knowledge translation health policy Adolescents

Index Keywords

information processing doctor patient relation longitudinal study refugee methodology health care policy Research Design indigenous people human Longitudinal Studies ethics Self Report sexuality controlled study health status Internet Torres Strait Islander qualitative research Cross-Sectional Studies interview Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent juvenile New South Wales gender consumer health informatics Oceanic Ancestry Group Intelligence attitude to health homelessness Health Services Accessibility health care delivery Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85027164157&doi=10.1136%2fbmjopen-2017-017047&partnerID=40&md5=a70c651896f40b807ab7ae596f84e839
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017047
ISSN: 20446055
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English