title: The patient transit assistance scheme: a consumer's perspective.
abstract: This article presents findings from State-wide research in Queensland on experiences with the Patient Transit Assistance Scheme (PTAS) from the point of view of patients with a haematological malignancy who travelled for specialist treatment. The findings indicate that the PTAS is of crucial importance to patients and their families and goes some way to buffering the financial hardship incurred from relocation. However, there are also strong indications that there is insufficient community awareness of the scheme, with the consequence that it is not appropriately accessed by those in need. The results confirm previous research that points to the hardship, both financial and emotional, associated with the experience of relocation for specialist treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Victoria Park Road, Red Hill, Qld 4059, Australia. p.mcgrath@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seguerra
mesh_terms: D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008483:Medical Assistance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000191:economics*; D011793:Queensland; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D014186:Transportation / Q000191:economics*