TY - JOUR
T1 - The contribution of group work to the goals of comprehensive primary health care
AU - Freeman, Toby
AU - Baum, Fran
AU - Javanparast, Sara
AU - Labonté, Ronald
AU - Lawless, Angela
AU - Barton, Elsa
PY - 2020/1/1
Y1 - 2020/1/1
N2 - Issue addressed: Group work, such as peer support and health promotion is an important strategy available to comprehensive primary health care. However, group work and how it contributes to the goals of comprehensive primary health care has been under-researched and under-theorised. Methods: In this 5-year study, we partnered with seven Australian primary health care services, and drew on service reports, two rounds of staff interviews (2009-2010 and 2013, N = 68 and 55), 10 community assessment workshops (N = 65), a client survey (N = 315) and case tracking of clients with diabetes (N = 184, plus interviews with 35 clients, and five practitioners) and clients with depression (N = 95, plus interviews with 21 clients, and 11 practitioners). We conducted a rapid literature review of existing research on group work, and developed a model showing a group work reinforcing cycle. We examined the nature of the groups run, and the benefits staff and clients perceived. Results: Benefits were grouped into four main themes: (a) social support, including for clients of the Aboriginal services, opportunities to celebrate their cultural identity, (b) improving skills and knowledge, (c) increasing access to services and (d) empowerment and solidarity. Conclusions: The perceived collective and individual benefits aligned with a comprehensive primary health care vision. However, the individualism stressed by neoliberal-driven health policy threatened the provision of group work and its potential collectivist benefits. So What: There are multiple benefits of group work in primary health care that cannot be achieved through individual work, highlighting the importance of policy and organisational support for group work.
AB - Issue addressed: Group work, such as peer support and health promotion is an important strategy available to comprehensive primary health care. However, group work and how it contributes to the goals of comprehensive primary health care has been under-researched and under-theorised. Methods: In this 5-year study, we partnered with seven Australian primary health care services, and drew on service reports, two rounds of staff interviews (2009-2010 and 2013, N = 68 and 55), 10 community assessment workshops (N = 65), a client survey (N = 315) and case tracking of clients with diabetes (N = 184, plus interviews with 35 clients, and five practitioners) and clients with depression (N = 95, plus interviews with 21 clients, and 11 practitioners). We conducted a rapid literature review of existing research on group work, and developed a model showing a group work reinforcing cycle. We examined the nature of the groups run, and the benefits staff and clients perceived. Results: Benefits were grouped into four main themes: (a) social support, including for clients of the Aboriginal services, opportunities to celebrate their cultural identity, (b) improving skills and knowledge, (c) increasing access to services and (d) empowerment and solidarity. Conclusions: The perceived collective and individual benefits aligned with a comprehensive primary health care vision. However, the individualism stressed by neoliberal-driven health policy threatened the provision of group work and its potential collectivist benefits. So What: There are multiple benefits of group work in primary health care that cannot be achieved through individual work, highlighting the importance of policy and organisational support for group work.
KW - community participation
KW - group processes
KW - health literacy
KW - health promotion theory
KW - primary care
KW - social determinants
KW - social inclusion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079700820&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hpja.323
DO - 10.1002/hpja.323
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85079700820
JO - Health Promotion Journal of Australia
JF - Health Promotion Journal of Australia
SN - 1036-1073
ER -