ArticleInternational journal of mental health systems2020
Referral patterns to primary mental health services in Western Sydney (Australia): an analysis of routinely collected data (2005-2018).
Article in International journal of mental health systems, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Operationalising routinely collected patient data in research to further the pursuit of social justice and health equity: a team-based scoping review.BMC medical research methodology · 2025Article
- Trends in Primary Mental Health Care Service Use and Subsequent Self-Harm in Western Sydney Australia: Policy and Workforce Implications.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundRegionally-specific approaches to primary mental health service provision through Primary Health Networks (PHNs) have been a feature of recent national mental health reforms. No previous studies have been conducted to investigate local patterns of primary mental health care (PMHC) services in Western Sydney. This study is designed to (i) understand the socio-demographic and economic profiles (ii) examine the inequalities of service access, and (iii) investigate the service utilisation patterns, among those referred to PMHC services in Western Sydney, Australia.
methodsThis study used routinely collected PMHC data (2005-2018), population-level general practice and Medicare rebates data (2013-2018) related to mental health conditions, for the population catchment of the Western Sydney PHN. Sex- and age-specific PMHC referrals were examined by socio-demographic, diagnostic, referral- and service-level factors, and age-specific referrals to PMHC services as a percentage of total mental health encounters were investigated.
resultsThere were 27,897 referrals received for 20,507 clients, of which, 79.19% referrals resulted in follow-up services with 138,154 sessions. Overall, 60.09% clients were female, and median age was 31 years with interquartile ranged 16-46 years. Anxiety and depression were the predominant mental health condition, and 9.88% referred for suicidal risk. Over two-thirds of referrals started treatments during the first month of the referral and 95.1% of the total sessions were delivered by face to face. The younger age group (0-24) had greater referral opportunities as a percentage of total visits to a general practitioner and Medicare rebates, however demonstrating poor attendance rates with reduced average sessions per referral compared with older adults.
conclusionChildren and young adults were more likely to be referred to PMHC services than older adults, but were less likely to attend services. Further research is needed to identify the strategies to address these differences in access to PMHC services to optimise the effectiveness of services.
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