Appropriateness of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre-adapted Refugee Health Assessment Tool
Eluby Sarah Patrick Napwanga A , Sheenagh McShane B and Lucio Naccarella C DA The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, PO Box 2381, Footscray, Vic. 3011, Australia.
C Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3010, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email l.naccarella@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 26(2) 132-139 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY19059
Submitted: 21 March 2019 Accepted: 15 November 2019 Published: 19 February 2020
Abstract
People seeking asylum (PSA) are recommended to undertake a comprehensive risk-based health assessment within 1 month of arrival in Australia. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) offers health services to PSA in Victoria, through the ASRC nurse-led clinic. A healthcare assessment is conducted by nurses using a Refugee Health Assessment (RHA) tool. A process evaluation was conducted to assess if the adapted 2016 version of the RHA tool was able to appropriately identify, describe and prioritise the needs of PSA. Twelve ASRC nurses who conducted assessments were interviewed. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed. The adapted RHA tool was considered as appropriate for identifying, describing and prioritising the needs of PSA. Three key interconnected themes emerged influencing the appropriateness of the tool: the tool; users’ experiences; and the individual characteristics of the PSA undergoing the assessment. Key tool limitations included: the structure not being user-friendly; variability in users’ sensitivity to using the tool; and the limited feedback from PSA on the adapted RHA tool. Given the high number of people seeking asylum in Australia and the complexity of their healthcare needs, this research provides preliminary guidance on ways to improve the appropriateness of the ASRC-adapted RHA tool.
Additional keywords: evaluation, nurses, public health, refugees.
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