Read the final research report - Access 3: young people and the health system in the digital age
For many young people, there is no such thing as a smooth journey through the healthcare system. Recent findings from research into young people’s access to health care in the digital age has shed light on the barriers faced by marginalised groups of young people in New South Wales.
Lead of the Access 3 study Associate Professor Melissa Kang believes “the key finding from this research is how hard it is for young people to access health care and how much more support they need navigating our complex and fragmented health care system.”
In an initial survey of 1416 young people in NSW, cost was the most frequently noted barrier, with 65% of the sample reporting that they found hidden and unexpected costs throughout the system. A longitudinal study then followed 41 young people from targeted marginalised groups over twelve months to explore the ways they use digital technology to support their navigation of health services. A common barrier for these young people was discrimination for their age, race and sexual or gender identity.
“I think the research really shines a light on the hostile environment that our health system is for marginalised young people,” said Associate Professor Kang.
What young people are saying very loud and clear is that they value a personal, professional relationship with their providers. It’s about health providers being not just technicians in the system but being real people. That’s what they’re crying out for.
The research shows that while digital technology is a positive tool for young people, it is under-utilised in the health care sector and should be better incorporated in service delivery. Associate Professor Kang noted that young people want to be able to find information easily and want to learn more about the complexity of the health system in school.
“That’s certainly a recommendation I’m going to be taking forward.”
The new findings can provide details to enable policy makers and health services managers to translate the NSW Youth Health Framework, released in 2017, into practice.