TY - JOUR
T1 - Health Outcomes of Children Living in Out-of-Home Care in Metropolitan Western Australia
T2 - A Sequential Mixed-Methods Study—A Protocol Paper
AU - Kachila, Hope
AU - Bulsara, Caroline
AU - Farrant, Brad
AU - Johnson, Alice
AU - Michie, Carol
AU - Pell, Charmaine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - The research protocol described aims to examine and establish the health outcomes of children and young people living in Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) in Perth, Western Australia (WA) from the perspective of the care recipients and service providers. A Study Advisory Panel (SAP) will be established comprised of Aboriginal Elders (because of the over-representation of Aboriginal children in OOHC), health professionals and other relevant stakeholders to help co-design all phases of the study. Mixed methods will be used in data collection and analysis. In the quantitative phase, it is proposed to collect retrospective data from three WA Department of Communities (DOC) districts. The data proposed to be collected includes: the number of children who received initial and annual health assessments, the health needs identified, and interventions put in place to address these needs. The qualitative phase will consist of interviews with service recipients (young people who have exited OOHC and Carers), health service providers (Community Health Nurses, School Nurses, General Practitioners and Paediatricians) and OOHC Case Workers. The research will provide an overview of the current health needs of children and young people in OOHC in WA and the perspectives of these young people, their Carers and service providers on current processes for accessing healthcare. It is anticipated that the study will provide valuable evidence for quality improvement in health service delivery to better meet the health needs of children and young people in OOHC.
AB - The research protocol described aims to examine and establish the health outcomes of children and young people living in Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) in Perth, Western Australia (WA) from the perspective of the care recipients and service providers. A Study Advisory Panel (SAP) will be established comprised of Aboriginal Elders (because of the over-representation of Aboriginal children in OOHC), health professionals and other relevant stakeholders to help co-design all phases of the study. Mixed methods will be used in data collection and analysis. In the quantitative phase, it is proposed to collect retrospective data from three WA Department of Communities (DOC) districts. The data proposed to be collected includes: the number of children who received initial and annual health assessments, the health needs identified, and interventions put in place to address these needs. The qualitative phase will consist of interviews with service recipients (young people who have exited OOHC and Carers), health service providers (Community Health Nurses, School Nurses, General Practitioners and Paediatricians) and OOHC Case Workers. The research will provide an overview of the current health needs of children and young people in OOHC in WA and the perspectives of these young people, their Carers and service providers on current processes for accessing healthcare. It is anticipated that the study will provide valuable evidence for quality improvement in health service delivery to better meet the health needs of children and young people in OOHC.
KW - children in care
KW - health outcomes
KW - health processes
KW - mixed methods
KW - out-of-home care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151119702&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/children10030566
DO - 10.3390/children10030566
M3 - Article
C2 - 36980123
AN - SCOPUS:85151119702
SN - 2227-9067
VL - 10
JO - Children
JF - Children
IS - 3
M1 - 566
ER -