Characteristics and value of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations Primary Health Care
Judith Streak Gomersall, Edoardo Aromataris, Alex Brown Judith Dwyer, Drew Carter, Kim O’Donnell, Karla Canuto, Kootsy Canuto, Matthew Stephenson, Odette Gibson
Objective
To describe and assess the unique characteristics and value of primary health care (PHC) delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
Methods
A systematic review of qualitative evidence including grey literature published 1971-2015. The review questions were: How do patients, their family members and PHC providers’ experience/perceive: a) the characteristics and meaningfulness of PHC provided by ACCHOs; and b) the differences between the characteristics and meaningfulness of PHC provided by ACCHOs and other PHC providers? Two reviewers appraised studies. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reviewers and sector experts with cultural and contextual knowledge were involved in each review step. Meta-aggregation was used to synthesise findings.
Lessons Learned
Nineteen studies offering rich findings were identified. Qualitative research on the review topic has increased rapidly since 2004. The findings shed light on the provision of culturally appropriate comprehensive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by ACCHOs and how the services promote empowerment, social inclusion and access to PHC with limited resources. The findings show key common unique characteristics of ACCHOs and differences.
Implications
Further supporting and strengthening ACCHOs to sustainably deliver comprehensive PHC services with unique characteristics that meet the complex physical and social health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a priority. Understanding gender differences in patient experiences of ACCHOs care value is important. More high quality research on PHC in ACCHO settings is needed to understand their resource needs and to inform funding.
Correspondence
Judith Straek Gomersall, Joanna Briggs Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences , The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5000 judith.gomersall@adelaide.edu.au