Ms Esther Jie Tian1, A/Prof Priya Martin2, Dr Clara Pham3, Dr Lewis Ingram4, Prof Saravana Kumar1
1Innovation, IMPlementation And Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, 2School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia, 3College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia , 4Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide , Australia
Biography:
Esther is a dietitian by trade with experience in health services research. Her research interests encompass allied health, public health, quality and safety of health care, evidence-based practice, and evidence implementation. She has contributed to various research projects spanning qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and secondary research. Esther is currently a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia. Her PhD focuses on understanding, demonstrating, and communicating the value and impact of allied health.
Abstract:
Background:
The increasing demand for acute care places a significant burden on hospitals, leading to profound impacts on patients, health professionals, and the wider health system. Primary health care (PHC) plays a crucial role in keeping people in the community. Allied health (AH) is an integral pillar of PHC in the prevention, management, and treatment of wide-ranging chronic and complex conditions. However, little is known about the impact of community-based AH on the acute sector.
Purpose:
To synthesise contemporary evidence on the effectiveness and economic impact of community-based AH on acute care utilisation and explore the perspectives of relevant stakeholders in this context.
Method:
Using best practice standards in the conduct of systematic reviews, eligible studies were identified from academic and grey literature. Narrative synthesis was undertaken, with assessments of methodological quality and certainty of evidence.
Results:
Findings from 70 papers showcased a rich diversity of AH services, highlighting the breadth and scope of AH in the community. While evidence on the effectiveness and economic impact of community-based AH on acute care utilisation was mixed – likely due to the heterogeneity of the evidence base – patients and carers consistently reported overwhelmingly positive experiences and benefits.
Discussion:
Community-based AH is well-accepted by consumers and is critical to alleviate the pressures on the acute sector. Further investment and ongoing research in services led by AH professions and standardised mechanisms for routine data collection can strengthen the evidence base and enhance decision-making, fostering value-based healthcare.