Barriers to accessing rural paediatric speech pathology services: health care consumers' perspectives.
OBJECTIVE
An investigation of consumers' perceived barriers to access paediatric speech pathology services.


METHODS
Self-administered, mail-out questionnaire.


METHODS
Rural and remote New South Wales (NSW).


METHODS
Three hundred and twenty-nine members of the NSW branch of the Isolated Children's and Parents' Association.


RESULTS
Consumers living in rural and remote areas experience a number of barriers that affected their ability to access speech pathology services. These barriers include the lack, and limited choice, of speech pathologists in rural areas; long distances to travel to access services, expensive travel costs, lack of public transport; poor awareness of speech pathology services; and delays in treatment due to waiting lists.


CONCLUSIONS
Barriers to access paediatric speech pathology services limit rural and remote consumers' usage of health services, regardless of need, indicating a possible inequity if compared to larger, more accessible urban areas.
O'Callaghan
Anna M
AM
School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga, New South Wales, Australia. annamocallaghan@hotmail.com
McAllister
Lindy
L
Wilson
Linda
L
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data