Families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities have lower uptake of paediatric allied health telehealth services
Clarice Tang1,2,3, Chloe Li2, Katrina Tosi3, Annette Zucco3, Tracy Phan3, Kirralee Hazeltine3, Elise Baker2,3,4 1Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia2Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW , Australia3South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, Australia4Ingham Institute of Applied Sciences, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
Abstract
Background: With the rapid transition to telehealth, there is a growing concern about equity of services especially to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. The uptake of allied health telehealth for children from CALD families and factors influencing uptake remained largely unknown. The aims of this study were to i) determine if telehealth uptake differed between families from CALD versus non-CALD backgrounds and iii) identify factors apart from cultural that influenced uptake.
Methods: A retrospective clinical audit of children and their families offered allied health services from March 2020 to September 2020 at South Western Sydney Local Health District (a culturally diverse population) was conducted. Information such as being CALD, preferred language, priority category, area of residence and the types of allied health services were collected. Results were descriptively analysed and a binary logistic regression model was used to determine if area of residence, priority categories or discipline types were factors influencing uptake of telehealth.
Results: A total of 1662 children included, of which, 43% identified to be from a CALD background. 60% of families took up telehealth, with a significantly lower uptake among CALD families compared to non-CALD families (2(1) = 15.9, p <0.01). Area of residence and priority categories were also factors influencing uptake of telehealth. Conclusion: Families from CALD backgrounds had lower uptake of telehealth allied health services for their children during COVID-19. Further research needs to be conducted to explore ways to improve uptake of telehealth among CALD families for paediatric allied health services.
Biography
Professor Clarice Tang is a researcher who specialises in using experience-based co-design methodology to work with consumers. She is particularly passionate and interested in working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. She has worked in partnership with various cultural groups in designing and implementing various programs across a multitude of chronic diseases including chronic respiratory disease and osteoporosis.