Evaluating the Better Access Initiative: What do Consumers Have to Say?

Abstract

The Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule initiative (Better Access) aims to improve outcomes for people with common mental disorders by encouraging a multidisciplinary approach to their mental health care. The current paper presents consumers' views on Better Access. A total of 936 consumers completed a structured survey or took part in an interview about their experiences with Better Access. Participants appreciated the fact that Better Access made psychological care affordable. They accessed services because they had clear mental health symptoms, often exacerbated by stressful life events. Most were impressed by the quality of care available through Better Access, and found that the number of available sessions was sufficient to meet their needs. Most importantly, the vast majority experienced significant reductions in symptoms and improvements in coping abilities, and they attributed these changes to the care they received through Better Access. Consumers are the most important stakeholders in any debate about mental health care delivery. However, until now they have not been well-represented in discussions about Better Access. Our study gave them the opportunity to air their views, and their first-hand impressions of the initiative were generally very positive.

《利用医保福利，就医更容易》（简称“更容易”）计划，意在鼓励多学科精神护理以改善精神失常病人的预后。本文报道了患者对“更容易”的观感。共有936位患者完成了一项正式的调查，即接受访谈，介绍了他们所经历的“更容易”。对于“更容易”让心理护理负担得起这一点，参与者非常首肯。他们获得这项服务是因为他们有明显的精神症状——这症状往往还因生活压力而恶化。患者对于“更容易”所提供看护的质量多有好感，他们认为所提供的数目足以满足的他们的需求。更重要的是，绝大多数参与者都有症状明显减少、行为能力得到改善的经历，他们认为是“更容易”带来了这样的变化。在任何有关心理护理服务的辩论中，患者是最重要的利益相关方。可惜直到目前，在涉及“更容易”计划的讨论中，患者并未得到充分的代表。本研究为他们提供机会表达自己的观感，他们对“更容易”的直接印象总的说来是正面的。

Keywords:

• Better Access
• Mental Health
• Medicare

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Addendum

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) [Tender 330/0708].