Journal article
Addressing surgical inequity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia's universal health care system: a call to action
Penny O'Brien, Samantha Bunzli, Ivan Lin, Dawn Bessarab, Juli Coffin, Michelle M Dowsey, Peter FM Choong
ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY | WILEY | Published : 2021
DOI: 10.1111/ans.16557
Abstract
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience health inequity within the Australian health care system. Little research has examined how disparities in surgical care access and outcomes contribute to Aboriginal health. In this narrative review and call to action, we discuss five care points along the journey to high-quality surgical care: health care seeking, primary health care services, specialist services, surgery and surgical outcomes. We highlight barriers and disparities that exist along this journey, drawing examples from the field of joint replacement surgery. Finally, we present opportunities for change at the health system, health service and clinician level, ..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by PhD scholarship offered through the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence in Total Joint Replacement
Awarded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship
Awarded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Practitioner Fellowship
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors are a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal clinicians and researchers with expertise in orthopaedic surgery, osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal health and cultural security. The authors have neither conflicts of interest nor conflicts relating to financial support or other benefits from commercial sources for the work presented in this manuscript. This publication was supported by a PhD scholarship offered through the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence in Total Joint Replacement (APP1116235). MMD is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship (APP1122526) and PFMC is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Practitioner Fellowship (APP1154203).