Clinician perceptions of Allied Health First Point of Contact models: Considerations for economic evaluation

Clinician perceptions of Allied Health First Point of Contact models: Considerations for economic evaluation

Caitlin Brandenburg¹, Laurelie Wishart¹, Joshua Byrnes², Tamlyn Rautenberg², Elizabeth Ward^1,3, Maria Schwarz⁴, Anne Coccetti⁵, Rachel Phillips⁶, Carina Hartley⁴, Michelle Palmer<sup>4

1</sup>Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
²Centre for Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
³School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
⁴Logan Hospital, Metro South Health, Logan, QLD, Australia
⁵QEII Jubilee Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
⁶Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Abstract

Introduction: Allied Health First Point of Contact (AHFPOC) models of care have shown great potential to improve the timeliness and efficiency of specialist outpatient care in individual studies. However, measures of value vary across studies, and there is increasing focus on understanding and unifying evaluation methods. This study aimed to identify domains that could be measured as part of an economic impact framework for AHFPOC services.
Methods: This qualitative descriptive study involved interviews with AH clinicians currently employed in FPOC clinics in Metro South Health, Queensland. Participants were asked to describe their current evaluation processes, and outline perceived benefits and drawbacks of their clinic model.
Results: Twenty-three clinicians from six different AH professions participated, representing 21 clinics across four hospitals. Preliminary themes identified positive and negative impacts of AHFPOC clinics to be considered in economic models. Perceived benefits were wide ranging and varied between models, including impacts such as reduced wait times, a streamlined pathway with less appointments, preventing unnecessary testing and improved surgical conversion rates. Perceived drawbacks and unintended consequences of the models were also outlined, such as the potential for an extra appointment with AH, reduction in amount of simple surgeries useful for meeting health service KPIs, and less exposure to certain patients/procedures for medical/surgical trainees.
Discussion/conclusion: AH clinicians reported that AHFPOC clinics had broad value to key stakeholders, and outlined both positive and negative domains of impact that could be measured as part of a robust economic evaluation framework.

Biography

Dr Caitlin Brandenburg is a Health Practitioner Research Fellow within the Centre for Functioning and Health Research (CFAHR) and currently is leading the Queensland Health Clinician-Researcher career pathway project. She has worked in research capacity building roles in health services for the past 7 years, and is passionate about supporting clinicians to engage in research. She regularly publishes on topics like research capacity building, research ethics, evidence based practice and the role of research in health service organisations.