Journal Article

Listen, understand, collaborate: developing innovative strategies to improve health service utilisation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men

Harfield, Stephen, Wittert, Gary, Canuto, Kootsy, Brown, Alex

2019

Overview

There's been enough talk, now is the time for action. Primary health care services (PHCSs) need to collaborate and develop innovative strategies to increase the use of health services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. Currently, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men are viewed as being disinterested in their health, thus, the blame is being placed on the individuals themselves for their under‐utilisation of PHCSs. In contrast to this misconception, studies have found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men are interested in their health but many face significant barriers that hinder access. In response, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men have identified strategies for PHCSs to reduce barriers and increase their use, which fundamentally includes working with local men to develop innovative strategies.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men are frequently described as having the worst health and social statistics in Australia. The life expectancy gap8 and burden of disease9 remains unacceptably high. The ill health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men is demonstrable across virtually all measures of mortality and morbidity; this group also experiences high rates of suicide, homelessness, unemployment and imprisonment, all of which contribute directly and indirectly to ill health and many other markers of wellbeing.

• Publisher: Elsevier B.V,Elsevier Limited,Elsevier
• Subject: Aboriginal Australians / Access / Blame / Clinics / Collaboration / Continuity of care / Cultural maintenance / Culturally Competent Care / Economic conditions / Economic crisis / Economic policy / Employment opportunities / Empowerment / Funding / Gender / Health care / Health care access / Health care policy / Health planning / Health services / Health services utilization / Health Services, Indigenous / Healthcare Disparities / Homeless people / Homelessness / Humans / Imprisonment / Indigenous peoples / Life expectancy / Life span / Men / Morbidity / Mortality rates / Native peoples / Organizational Innovation / Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology / Primary care / Primary Health Care - statistics & numerical data / Public health / Racism / Recreation / Recreational facilities / Social interactions / Strategies / Suicide / Sustainable development / Unemployment / Well being