The allied health workforce of rural Aotearoa New Zealand: a scoping review
Sarah M. Walker
1 2 * , Ewan Kennedy 1 , Garry Nixon 2 3 4 , Katharina Blattner 3 5
1 Centre for Health Activity and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
2 Dunstan Hospital, Central Otago Health Services Limited, Clyde, New Zealand.
3 Department of General Practice and Rural Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
4 Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
5 Rawene Hospital, Hauora Hokianga, Rawene, New Zealand.
Journal of Primary Health Care 14(3) 259-267 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC22055
Published: 19 July 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Introduction: The allied health workforce is a crucial, if at times poorly visible, component of modern healthcare systems. The services provided by allied health professionals may be particularly important for underserved populations, including rural and remote communities.
Aim: To determine what is currently known through research about the allied health workforce in rural Aotearoa New Zealand.
Method: A scoping review of diverse sources of literature from Aotearoa New Zealand was obtained from seven databases (July 2011–July 2021).
Results: Eighty-nine articles were identified, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria; nine empirical studies and one narrative review. The included research fell into two main categories: geographic workforce distribution (n = 8), and the role of the rural allied health workforce (n = 2).
Discussion: The paucity of research that meets the criteria for inclusion makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the allied health workforce in rural Aotearoa New Zealand. There is a focus in both the international rural allied health literature and the Aotearoa New Zealand rural medical and nursing literature on: measuring geographic workforce distribution; and rural-specific training. This suggests that these issues are important to the rural workforce. Similar research is needed in Aotearoa New Zealand to inform policy and ensure the rural allied health workforce reaches its full potential in improving health outcomes for rural New Zealanders.
Keywords: allied health, allied health occupations, allied health personnel, geographic workforce distribution, health workforce, New Zealand, rural health, rural health services, workforce.
References
[1] Thomas SL, Wakerman J, Humphreys JS. Ensuring equity of access to primary health care in rural and remote Australia - what core services should be locally available? Int J Equity Health 2015; 14 111| Ensuring equity of access to primary health care in rural and remote Australia - what core services should be locally available?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[2] Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health. Literature Review: Supporting the transition of Allied Health Professionals to Remote and Rural Practice. Canberra (AU): SARRAH; 2016. Available from: https://sarrah.org.au/our-work/policy-and-strategy/publications [Accessed 21 January 2021]
[3] O’Sullivan B, Worley P. Setting priorities for rural allied health in Australia: a scoping review. Rural Remote Health 2020; 20 5719
| Setting priorities for rural allied health in Australia: a scoping review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[4] Barker R, Chamberlain‐Salaun J, Harrison H, et al. Evaluation of the Allied Health Rural Generalist Program 2017‐2019. Aust J Rural Health 2021; 29 158–71.
| Evaluation of the Allied Health Rural Generalist Program 2017‐2019.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[5] Ministry of Health. Mātātuhi Tuawhenua: Health Rural Māori 2012. Wellington (NZ): Ministry of Health; 2012. Available from: https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/matatuhi-tuawhenua-health-rural-maori-2012 [Accessed 29 July 2021]
[6] Fearnley D, Lawrenson R, Nixon G. ‘Poorly defined’: unknown unknowns in New Zealand Rural Health. N Z Med J 2016; 129 77–81.
[7] Blattner K, Stokes T, Rogers-Koroheke M, et al. Good care close to home: Local health professional perspectives on how a rural hospital can contribute to the healthcare of its community. N Z Med J 2020; 133 39–46.
[8] Wong DL, Nixon G. The rural medical generalist workforce: The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners’ 2014 workforce survey results. J Prim Health Care 2016; 8 196–203.
| The rural medical generalist workforce: The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners’ 2014 workforce survey results.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[9] Pande MM. General practice in urban and rural New Zealand: results of the 2007 RNZCGP membership survey. J Prim Health Care 2009; 1 108–13.
| General practice in urban and rural New Zealand: results of the 2007 RNZCGP membership survey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[10] Blattner K, Miller R, Lawrence-Lodge R, et al. New Zealand’s vocational Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme: the first ten years. N Z Med J 2021; 134 57–68.
[11] Nixon G, Blattner K. Rural hospital medicine in New Zealand: vocational registration and the recognition of a new scope of practice. N Z Med J 2007; 120 U2654
[12] Blattner K, Stokes T, Nixon G. A scope of practice that works ‘out here’: exploring the effects of a changing medical regulatory environment on a rural New Zealand health service. Rural Remote Health 2019; 19 5442
| A scope of practice that works ‘out here’: exploring the effects of a changing medical regulatory environment on a rural New Zealand health service.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[13] Bell J, Crawford R, Holloway K. Core components of the rural nurse specialist role in New Zealand. Rural Remote Health 2018; 18 4260
| Core components of the rural nurse specialist role in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[14] Adams S, Carryer J. Establishing the nurse practitioner workforce in rural New Zealand: barriers and facilitators. J Prim Health Care 2019; 11 152–8.
| Establishing the nurse practitioner workforce in rural New Zealand: barriers and facilitators.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[15] Arksey H, O’Malley L. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. Int J Soc Res Methodol 2005; 8 19–32.
| Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[16] Peters MD, Godfrey CM, Khalil H, et al. Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews. Int J Evid Based Healthc 2015; 13 141–6.
| Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[17] Whitehead J, Davie G, de Graaf B, et al. Defining rural in Aotearoa New Zealand: a novel geographic classification for health purposes. N Z Med J 2022; 135
[18] Ministry of Health. Allied Health 2019. Wellington (NZ): Ministry of Health; 2019. Available from: https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/leadership-ministry/allied-health [Accessed 8 November 2021]
[19] Hogan S. Hidden in plain sight: Optimising the allied health professions for better, more sustainable integrated care. Wellington (NZ): Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand (AHANZ); 2021. Available from: https://www.alliedhealth.org.nz/uploads/8/8/9/4/88944696/hidden_in_plain_sight_final_23_06_2021.pdf
[20] Exeter DJ, Wu B, Lee AC, et al. The projected burden of hearing loss in New Zealand (2011-2061) and the implications for the hearing health workforce. N Z Med J 2015; 128 12
[21] Gleissner MF. Private speech-language therapy practices in Aotearoa–New Zealand [Masters]. Christchurch: University of Cantebury; 2018.
[22] Stewart M. The Aotearoa New Zealand Psychology Workforce Survey. Wellington (NZ): Ministry of Health; 2016. Available from: https://www.nzccp.co.nz/te-pataka/ [Accessed 29 July 2021]
[23] Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. Annual Report 2020/21. Wellington (NZ): Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand (PBNZ); 2021. Available from: https://www.physioboard.org.nz/resources/reports/annual-reports [Accessed 29 July 2021]
[24] Reid A, Dixon H. M4king sen5e of 7he numbers. Wellington (NZ): Physiotherapy New Zealand (PNZ); 2018. Available from: https://pnz.org.nz/workforce [Accessed 29 July 2021]
[25] Social Workers Registration Board. Annual Report 2019–2020. Wellington (NZ): Social Workers Registration Board; 2020. Available from: https://swrb.govt.nz/about-us/news-and-publications/publications/ [Accessed 29 July 2021]
[26] Pharmacy Council. Workforce Demographic 2021. Wellington (NZ): Pharmacy Council; 2021. Available from: https://pharmacycouncil.org.nz/public/workforce-demographics/ [Accessed 29 July 2021]
[27] Pullon S, Garrett S, Garnett A, et al. Five years on: Influences on early career health professionals from a rural interprofessional pre‐registration immersion program. Aust J Rural Health 2021; 29 146–57.
| Five years on: Influences on early career health professionals from a rural interprofessional pre‐registration immersion program.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[28] George JE, Larmer PJ, Kayes N. Learning from those who have gone before: strengthening the rural allied health workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand. Rural Remote Health 2019; 19 4878
| Learning from those who have gone before: strengthening the rural allied health workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[29] Awatere SA. What really does it have to do with osteopathy anyway?: New Zealand osteopath practitioners talk about rural Māori health [Masters]. Palmerston North: Massey University; 2011.
[30] Fraser J. Rural health: a literature review for the National Health Committee. Wellington (NZ): National Health Committee; 2006. Available from: https://www.moh.govt.nz/notebook/nbbooks.nsf/0/A29CD67B3EB1CD03CC2579A5006ECDC7/$file/rural-health-literature-review.pdf [Accessed 8 November 2021]
[31] Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health. Rural Allied Health Quality, Access and Distribution: Options for Commonwealth Government Policy Reform and Investment. Canberra (AU): Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health; 2019. Available from: https://sarrah.org.au/images/SARRAH_Rural_Allied_Health_Discussion_Paper_Aug2019_FINAL.pdf [Accessed 21 January 2022]
[32] Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health. The Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway. Canberra (AU): Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health; 2022. Available from: https://sarrah.org.au/our-work/ahrgpathway [Accessed 21 January 2022]
[33] Ministry of Health. Rongoā Māori: Traditional Māori healing. Wellington (NZ): Ministry of Health; 2021. Available from: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/rongoa-maori-traditional-maori-healing [Accessed 3 March 2022]
[34] Boulton AF, Gifford HH, Potaka-Osborne M. Realising whānau ora through community action: the role of Māori Community Health Workers. Educ Health 2009; 22 188
