Australian Journal of Rural Health最新文献

{"title":"Exploring an Allied Health Student Placement Model in Rural Aged-Care Settings: A UDRH Collaborative Evaluation Using RE-AIM","authors":"Carmela Leone,&nbsp;Robyn McNeil,&nbsp;Pam Harvey,&nbsp;Marita Chisholm,&nbsp;Sean MacDermott","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70168","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70168","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To evaluate the expansion of the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program into aged care services across rural Victoria. The program was designed to address workforce shortages and enhance allied health service delivery in Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The evaluation was set in aged care services in rural Victoria, Australia, specifically within RACHs partnered with four Victorian University Departments of Rural Health.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants were allied health students undertaking placements in a service-learning model, aged care providers and university staff involved in program implementation and evaluation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Through a collaboration between La Trobe University's John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, the University of Melbourne's Department of Rural Health, Monash Rural Health, and two rural aged care providers, the evaluation employed a case study approach utilising the RE-AIM framework. Data sources included student focus groups and surveys, and stakeholder interviews and focus groups. The RE-AIM framework guided the data analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The program positively influenced student attitudes towards aged care, addressed resident needs through increased access to allied health services, and supported rural workforce development. Students reported meaningful engagement with older adults, which influenced perceptions and fostered interest in aged care careers. Despite challenges such as student financial burden and supervision limitations, the model demonstrated value for students and residents.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The evaluation highlighted how placements provided allied health students with meaningful connections with older people, influenced attitudes and prompted them to consider aged care careers—an outcome that has significant implications for future workforce planning.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12990163/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Building Rural Health Research Capacity Through Embedded Researchers and Ecosystem Development","authors":"Anna Wong Shee,&nbsp;Kevin Mc Namara,&nbsp;Laura Alston,&nbsp;Marley Binder,&nbsp;Alison Buccheri,&nbsp;Karina Demasson,&nbsp;Michael Field,&nbsp;Bianca Kavanagh,&nbsp;Olivia King,&nbsp;Mary Malakellis,&nbsp;Samantha Russell,&nbsp;Alesha M. Sayner,&nbsp;Kate Schlicht,&nbsp;Drew Aras,&nbsp;Vincent L. Versace","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70164","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70164","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To explore the role and impact of University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) targeted investment in embedded researchers and research–practice partnerships as mechanisms to increase research capacity in rural health and community services.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Context</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Increasing rural research capacity and culture is crucial for improving rural health outcomes and a key deliverable for UDRHs. Rural health services often lack research capacity due to multiple factors including chronic workforce shortages, limited research infrastructure and resources, fewer academic partnerships and historical underinvestment in rural health research.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Approach</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This commentary describes the development of an ecosystem of embedded researchers and research–practice partnerships in rural western Victoria. Three case studies provide examples of embedded researcher models that are supported by a UDRH, and the role of an Australian academic health science centre focusing on rural health outcomes, as an enabler of impact. These case studies are based on the perspectives of senior academics, leaders and embedded researchers, and their first-hand knowledge of Deakin Rural Health (a UDRH), rural health organisations and the rural research context. These case studies focus on the broader impacts of embedded researchers and their contribution to a research ecosystem.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>UDRH academic leadership and targeted investment in embedded researchers, combined with support from rural health and community services, has created a research ecosystem. There has been synergistic growth in research capacity, output and research culture that exceeds what either UDRH or partner organisations could achieve independently. Despite this success, sustaining this ecosystem is challenging; there is a need to invest in embedded researchers and ensure an enabling environment for rural health services research through changes to policy and organisational culture.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12993104/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research Capacity and Culture Development in a Small Rural Health Service","authors":"Dai Pu,&nbsp;Stephen Gill,&nbsp;Michael Field,&nbsp;Alison Buccheri,&nbsp;Olivia A. King,&nbsp;Catherine E. Huggins,&nbsp;Terry Haines,&nbsp;Joanne E. Porter,&nbsp;Vincent L. Versace,&nbsp;Laura Alston","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70165","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70165","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to measure changes in staff perceptions of research capacity and culture in a small rural health service in Australia over time.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Staff completed the Research Capacity and Culture Tool, a valid and reliable survey that measures individuals' perceptions of their own research capacity and the research capacity and culture of their team and organisation. Data from 2015 was compared to 2023, following significant changes at the health service that focused on integrating research into the organisational structure.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This was a repeated cross-sectional study in which data were collected from different individuals.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data were collected from a rural health service in Victoria (Modified Monash Model 4–5).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>All staff working in the health service were invited to complete the survey.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Outcome Measures</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Research Capacity and Culture Tool.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Results demonstrated improvements in eleven out of eighteen measures of research capacity and culture at the organisation level, six out of nineteen measures at the team level, but none at the individual level. Median improvements were modest, typically two points on the 10-point scale.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Integrating research into the health service organisation structure may be beneficial for its research capacity and culture.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12972638/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147391747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resident and Family Carer Perspectives on the Impact of Allied Health Student Placements on Service Delivery to Residents in Northern NSW Aged Care Homes: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Rosie Meares,&nbsp;Mohammad Hamiduzzaman,&nbsp;Vanette McLennan,&nbsp;Sarah Miles,&nbsp;Sarah Crook,&nbsp;Lewis Grove,&nbsp;Frances Barraclough,&nbsp;Jennie Hewitt,&nbsp;Gillian Nisbet,&nbsp;Karn Nelson,&nbsp;Marianne Wallis,&nbsp;Victoria Flood","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70160","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70160","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To explore the perceptions of rural residential aged care home (RACH) residents and family carers about the integration of allied health students in service delivery, and its impact on residents' health and wellbeing.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two rural RACHs in Northern NSW, where allied health students (Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Nutrition and Dietetics and Social Work) attended rural clinical placements and were integrated in service delivery for residents.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Twelve residents who received student-integrated services from the RACHs and five family carers.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This was a qualitative evaluation. Residents and family carers were approached to participate in a semi-structured interview. Interviews were recorded, and audio interviews were transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate themes and sub-themes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Three themes, each with several sub-themes, emerged from the interview data. The first theme was facilitators of effective care, and sub-themes were: modes of services, team-based approach and continuity of care. Continuity of care between successive groups of students was identified as an aspect of placement that requires improvement. The second theme presented how residents' functional abilities and emotional wellbeing improved after participating in student-led assessments and interventions. The third theme was participants' satisfaction with the students' competency and professionalism in delivering services.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>From the perspectives of residents and family carers, allied health student placements can enhance service provision in rural RACHs in Northern NSW. These placements offer potential to grow the rural allied health workforce and assist in meeting the health service needs of older rural adults within the region.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12968508/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147379682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rural Aged Care Providers' Engagement in Medication Communication During Transitions of Care: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Alison Dowling,&nbsp;Elizabeth Manias","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70161","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70161","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To explore how healthcare providers in rural aged care homes communicate about medications during transitions of care involving residents.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two residential aged care homes in rural Australia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ten female healthcare providers including nurses, personal care assistants and pharmacists.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews, analysed thematically, with engagement mapped via the Patient and Family Engagement Framework. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines were followed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two themes emerged from the interview data: (1) Providers' perceptions of medication communication roles and responsibilities, and (2) Providers' perceptions of challenges to engaging in medication communication. Nurses played a central but often reactive role, with resident and family engagement varying by capacity, proximity and interest. Personal care assistants and visiting pharmacists and personal care assistants contributed valuable safety and observational insights. Communication with other providers was fragmented and influenced by systemic and contextual inefficiencies.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Healthcare providers in rural aged care homes, particularly nurses, face challenges in medication communication during care transitions. Structured, collaborative strategies are needed to ensure consistent information sharing and proactive resident and family engagement, with opportunities to strengthen contributions from pharmacists and personal care assistants in supporting person-centred care.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12968489/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147379778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mind the Gap: Preliminary Insights Into Rural Australians' Experiences of Oral Health Care","authors":"Fiona Dangerfield,&nbsp;Sudheer Babu Balla,&nbsp;Stacey Bracksley-O’Grady,&nbsp;Virginia Dickson-Swift","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70158","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70158","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Australians living in rural areas have a higher prevalence of dental caries and higher potentially preventable hospital admissions for oral health conditions compared to metropolitan-dwelling Australians. Despite high burdens of dental disease and a lack of systems supporting oral health, including water fluoridation and access to dental services, rural Australians have been given limited opportunities to participate in oral health research, resulting in gaps in our understanding. The objective of this study was to explore rural health consumer experiences of using and accessing oral health care services.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cross-sectional online survey.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rural and remote Australia (MM2–MM7).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Members of the Rural Health Consumer Panel aged over 18 years.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One hundred and thirty-nine Rural Health Consumer Panel members responded to the survey. Key sociodemographic characteristics included a median age of 61 years, predominantly female (74.5%) and highly educated (73% holding tertiary qualifications). The majority of those visiting an oral health professional in the past 12 months reported visiting a dentist (47.5%). Over a third (38%) of respondents did not visit any oral health professional in the past 12 months. Private health insurance coverage was associated with more regular dental and oral health check-ups. Key challenges in accessing oral health care included cost, wait times for an appointment, and distance travelled to receive care.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rural people in this study face barriers in accessing oral health care, contributing to low rates of preventative dental and oral health visits. The difficulty in accessing oral health services and lower rates of private health insurance in rural areas further exacerbate these inequities. Further research is required to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of rural people in relation to accessing oral health services and involving rural people in developing place-based solutions across communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12967675/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147373573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Creating a Feasible, Safe and Sustainable Penicillin Oral Challenge Program in a Rural Health Service","authors":"Jaclyn Bishop,&nbsp;Jane Miller,&nbsp;Sue McAdie,&nbsp;Leeanne Atkinson","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70162","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70162","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Problem</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Programs that identify people with a low-risk allergy who can be safely delabeled by a direct oral challenge have emerged but are mostly reported in tertiary centres. There is limited information in the rural setting where resources are more constrained.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A medium-sized rural health service in Victoria (Australia).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Key Measures for Improvement</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The outcome measure was the number of patients with a low-risk penicillin allergy who completed a penicillin oral challenge.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Strategies for Change</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The penicillin oral challenge program developed considered four critical workflows: choice of allergy assessment tool, identifying those with a low-risk penicillin allergy who were interested in an oral challenge, oral challenge supervision and communication of the outcome. These were tested through Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Effects of Change</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Of 23 allergy assessment tools completed, fifteen revealed a low-risk allergy (PEN-FAST score 0, 1 or 2). Six people were not interested in the oral challenge and three did not have their interest recorded. Of the remaining six, four had an oral challenge (27%).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Lessons Learnt</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Utilizing teamwork and the broad skill set of generalist rural staff, this rural health service was able to complete a penicillin oral challenge for over 25% of inpatients with a low-risk penicillin allergy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147373597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decisions to Access Health Care: Voices From Rural Residents in Southeast Australia","authors":"Lisa Bourke","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70159","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70159","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite significant literature on access to, and utilisation of, health care, less attention has been given to the agency of rural service users to use, or not use, health services. This paper aims to understand the decisions of residents from two rural communities to use, or not use, health services.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants were recruited from Neighbourhood Houses in two rural communities in northern Victoria, Australia, located relatively close to a regional centre.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Twenty participants with significant socioeconomic needs were included.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study used a qualitative design and constructivist paradigm to undertake semi-structured interviews which were analysed thematically.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Three types of decisions to access health services were identified. First, regular users prioritised their health, valued health care, and usually had a trusted healthcare navigator. Second, sometimes users identified barriers to accessing services, primarily not having a trusted GP and cost. Third, avoiders of health services suggested they did not prioritise their own health, it was easier to not attend, they did not believe health services led to better health outcomes, and poverty or other social issues prevented use. Some respondents moved between the three types, being regular users for children and when they had a trusted GP, and sometimes users for themselves or when barriers arose.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study identified the strong role of GPs and the relational aspects of accessing and utilising health care. It calls for stronger engagement with disadvantaged rural residents to build trust in health care among those avoiding health services.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12953743/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rural Immersion Placements Help Develop Critical, Community-Focussed Allied Health Students: A Qualitative Study of Student Perspectives","authors":"Luke Wakely,&nbsp;Susan Heaney,&nbsp;Julie Burrows,&nbsp;Leanne Brown","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70156","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70156","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To explore allied health students' perspectives on rural immersion placements facilitated by the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health (UONDRH), and how these experiences influence learning quality and rural career intent.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Four rural UONDRH sites across New South Wales, Australia, where students undertook extended placements ranging from 12 weeks to a full academic year.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sixty final-year allied health students from nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, medical radiation sciences, physiotherapy, and speech pathology programs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted post-placement. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis, supported by field notes and student co-analysis to enhance rigour and authenticity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Four themes emerged: (1) Focusing inwards—students initially prioritised their own needs; (2) Focusing nearby—support networks and interprofessional learning enriched the experience; (3) Focusing outward—community engagement fostered critical reflection and cultural awareness; (4) Focusing forward—considered their career intent, but now with a knowledge of rural health care context. The extended duration of placements enabled deeper immersion, reflective practice, and a broadened understanding of rural health contexts.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rural immersion placements offer transformative learning experiences that foster clinical competence, interprofessional collaboration, and rural career interest. Addressing structural barriers and enhancing rural job opportunities are essential to harnessing this intent and strengthening the rural allied health workforce.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12951704/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147328242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experiences of Breastfeeding Complications in Rural and Regional Victoria: Perspectives From Mothers and Clinicians","authors":"Georgia R. Doyle,&nbsp;Eleanor K. L. Mitchell,&nbsp;Adelle McArdle","doi":"10.1111/ajr.70154","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ajr.70154","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Objective&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;To explore the experiences of breastfeeding complications in women and the perspectives of the clinicians who care for them in rural and regional areas.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Design&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;This qualitative study recruited and interviewed mothers with recent breastfeeding experience, and clinicians regularly managing breastfeeding complications. The interviews explored experiences about breastfeeding including seeking healthcare support for breastfeeding (mothers) and experiences in caring for women with breastfeeding complications (clinicians). Audio recordings were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was undertaken.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Setting&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;This study took place in rural and regional Victoria (Modified Monash Model [MMM] classified 3–6 areas), Australia, in 2022.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Participants&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;A total of 20 mothers (MMM3-5 &lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 12; MMM4-6 &lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 8) and 18 clinicians including General Practitioners (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 4), Maternal Child Health Nurses (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 9), Lactation Consultants (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 5) and Allied Health Practitioners (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 2) participated.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Mothers and clinicians reported a range of common breastfeeding complications, with mothers frequently experiencing multiple concurrent issues. Three themes were identified including expectations of breastfeeding, information and health literacy surrounding breastfeeding and barriers to accessing breastfeeding support services. Unrealistic expectations of breastfeeding, lack of clinician education about breastfeeding, the availability and knowledge related to local breastfeeding support services and geographic access were all elements that impacted the breastfeeding journey.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;This study highlights the urgent need to improve healthcare for breastfeeding women in rural and regional areas. Broader policy issues must be addressed and resourced to ensure breastfeeding guidelines are universally accessible and equitable. This includes embedding evidence-based management within healthcare guidelines, effective monitoring to sustain progress towards breastfeeding targets, and further research to improve outcomes for rural and regional mothers and clinicians. Additionally, better promotion of existing breastfeeding s","PeriodicalId":55421,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rural Health","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12892394/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146159370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}