Travelling over 300 km for health care
MM 3-5
28%
MM 6-7
80%
Conducting health research
Understanding health disadvantage
Rural Doctors Foundation works to provide meaningful and tangible improvements to rural health. Apart from offering grassroots health programs, we’re developing rural health research to understand and advocate for our diverse rural and remote communities.
Australian Government data shows that rural and remote Australians have poorer health outcomes than those living in major cities. The mortality rate for rural and remote people is 1.8 times higher. And there are higher rates of hospitalisations and injury.
As well, 3 in 5 rural people don’t see a specialist when they should, because there isn’t one close by. Many rural Australians travel long distances or face long waiting times for medical care. This has a significant effect on individual health outcomes.
We conduct research to understand the health needs of our rural health practitioners and to understand the barriers that exist to seeking healthcare.
We survey rural and remote people whilst delivering life-saving health checks. This face-to-face approach provides insight into major health issues facing rural and remote Australians.
We explore access to health care and what the health care priorities are for those living and working in our rural and remote communities.
This research informs the programs that we deliver to rural and remote communities and informs our work to advocate for better health care for all Australians.
Research report: The health of our rural health practitioners
In 2023,we conducted research to understand the barriers that rural health practitioners face in accessing health care. We identified key issues including the difficulties in receiving independence of care, continuity of care, and the tyranny of distance that results in many health practitioners neglecting their own health.
Key findings
Accessing health care
Reasons for not seeking healthcare
Impact of not being able to access health care
“44% of respondents felt the health practitioners in their town did not receive best practice continuity of care.”
Research report: Health outcomes and issues facing rural and remote communities
Research was conducted into the health of those living in rural and remote communities and we have continued to build on this body of work. Our research focuses on finding out more about access to urgent and non-urgent medical care, perceived health status and major healthcare issues.
Key findings
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Normal
31.5%
Overweight
31.5%
Clinically obese
37%