Observational studyThe Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry2026
Examining Better Access use by Australian adults using data from two longitudinal studies (Ten to Men and the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health).
Observational study in The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Uptake, utilisation and costs of treatment through Better Access from 2018 to 2022: An analysis of Medicare Benefits Schedule data.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Who uses Better Access treatment services? A re-analysis of data from the usual care arms of two randomised controlled trials.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Accessibility and responsiveness of Better Access treatment services: Insights from the use of linked administrative data in the evaluation of Better Access.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Examining the effectiveness of the Better Access initiative using data from real-world practice settings.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Evaluation of Australia's Better Access initiative: An overview.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Review
- Australia's Better Access initiative: A survey of provider and referrer views.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- A virtual consultative forum on future reforms to Better Access.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Consumers' experiences with and outcomes from Better Access: Results from a national survey.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThis study aimed to provide a picture of who uses Better Access treatment services, how they do so and what the benefits are.
methodsWe conducted an observational prospective study involving independent cohorts from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (Ten to Men [TTM]) and the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH). We used data from two pairs of baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1) waves for those aged ⩾ 18 in TTM and those in the 1989-1995, 1973-1978 and 1946-1951 cohorts in ALSWH. Using survey data and linked Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) claims data, we identified participants with 'mental health need' at T0 who had and had not used Better Access treatment services between T0 and T1.
resultsProportions of Better Access users varied across study cohorts and analyses, with 45% being the highest. Those who used Better Access treatment services typically accessed 5-6 sessions, usually from clinical psychologists and/or psychologists. Between half and three-quarters paid out-of-pocket costs (usually $80-$100/session). Typically, around half of those who used Better Access had better mental health at T1 than T0. Severity of mental health problems at baseline was strongly predictive of both Better Access use and improvements in mental health.
conclusionAustralian adults with mental health need make varying use of Better Access treatment services, but the programme appears to serve those with high levels of need relatively well.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.