The Association of Family Continuity with Infant Health Service Use

Clark, Elizabeth; Saultz, John; Buckley, David I; Rdesinski, Rebecca E.; Goldberg, Bruce; Gill, James M.

doi:10.3122/jabfm.2008.05.070040

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Continuity of carer is a critical component of primary health care known to improve the quality of service delivery [40]. Studies indicate that continuity of carer at the primary care level reduces hospital admissions, improves compliance with treatment, increases preventive care and improves relationships between clinician and patient [41,42]. Maintaining skilled and knowledgeable continuity of carer can be challenging in this context given the high staff turnover and difficulties retaining staff in remote communities [43] but should be a priority.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adherence to management guidelines for growth faltering and anaemia in remote dwelling Australian Aboriginal infants and barriers to health service delivery

Bar-Zeev

Kruske

Barclay

et al. 2013

BMC Health Serv Res

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BackgroundRemote dwelling Aboriginal infants from northern Australia have a high burden of disease and frequently use health services. Little is known about the quality of infant care provided by remote health services. This study describes the adherence to infant guidelines for anaemia and growth faltering by remote health staff and barriers to effective service delivery in remote settings.MethodsA mixed method study drew data from 24 semi-structured interviews with clinicians working in two remote communities in northern Australia and a retrospective cohort study of Aboriginal infants from these communities, born 2004–2006 (n = 398). Medical records from remote health centres were audited. The main outcome measures were the period prevalence of infants with anaemia and growth faltering and management of these conditions according to local guidelines. Qualitative data assessed clinicians’ perspectives on barriers to effective remote health service delivery.ResultsData from 398 health centre records were analysed. Sixty eight percent of infants were anaemic between six and twelve months of age and 42% had documented growth faltering by one year. Analysis of the growth data by the authors however found 86% of infants experienced growth faltering over 12 months. Clinical management and treatment completion was poor for both conditions. High staff turnover, fragmented models of care and staff poorly prepared for their role were barriers perceived by clinicians’ to impact upon the quality of service delivery.ConclusionAmong Aboriginal infants in northern Australia, malnutrition and anaemia are common and occur early. Diagnosis of growth faltering and clinicians’ adherence to management guidelines for both conditions was poor. Antiquated service delivery models, organisation of staff and rapid staff turnover contributed to poor quality of care. Service redesign, education and staff stability must be a priority to redress serious deficits in quality of care provided for these infants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adherence to management guidelines for growth faltering and anaemia in remote dwelling Australian Aboriginal infants and barriers to health service delivery

Bar-Zeev

Kruske

Barclay

et al. 2013

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…From a state Medicaid database: Clark et al 6 found that continuity of site for mother in the prenatal period and the infant in the postnatal period (approximately one-half of the infants) was associated with additional well-child and emergency department (ED) visits but no reduction in hospitalizations. This study raises more questions that it answers-we usually hope that continuity, even from mother to infant, helps prevent ED visits.…”

Section: Health Services Deliverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here we highlight studies that provide new/ clarifying results, [1][2][3][4][5] mixed results, [6][7][8] and unexpected results. 6,7 Several reports provide information and data on major tenets of family medicine: Clark et al 6 studied continuity between prenatal care and infant care; Mainous et al 5 described the long-term personal history importance to future risk of disease; and Merenstein and Merenstein 9 provide patient feedback on the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Medical Home, Health Services, and Clinical Family Medicine Research

Bowman¹,

Neale²,

Lupo³

2008

The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine

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Postpartum consultations in Australian general practice

Brodribb

Mitchell

Driel

2016

Aust. J. Prim. Health

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Many GPs undertake postpartum care for women and their infants. GP follow-up enables early identification and management of problems, education and support for parenting, and reconnection with general practice following the birth. However, there is little information about GPs' understanding of their role in postpartum care and how it is undertaken. This cross-sectional survey of GPs in Southern Queensland, conducted between February and July 2013, describes the involvement of GPs in postpartum care. GPs were posted a 52-item questionnaire adapted from a previous Victorian GP study and were telephoned 2 weeks later. GPs completed the survey on paper or online. The response rate was 17.4% (163 GPs). Approximately 39% were uncertain whether women were happy with the GP-provided postpartum care. GPs' recommendations for the timing of postpartum reviews were inconsistent within and across birthing sectors and consultations took longer than anticipated. Developing guidelines around the timing and appropriate length of postpartum consultations could assist GPs in providing appropriate care for mothers and infants.

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The Association of Family Continuity with Infant Health Service Use

Cited by 4 publications

References 19 publications

Adherence to management guidelines for growth faltering and anaemia in remote dwelling Australian Aboriginal infants and barriers to health service delivery

Adherence to management guidelines for growth faltering and anaemia in remote dwelling Australian Aboriginal infants and barriers to health service delivery

The Medical Home, Health Services, and Clinical Family Medicine Research

Postpartum consultations in Australian general practice

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