Azimi Somayyeh, Uddin Nasir
Clinical Research Centre, North Metropolitan Health Service, Mental Health, Perth 6010, Australia.
School of Health and Clinical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Aug 22;13(17):2092. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13172092.
This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current mental health workforce and the factors influencing its distribution within adult community mental health services in Western Australia's North Metropolitan Health Service. Mental health workforce supply across North Metropolitan Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2-Australian Statistical Geography Standard) was estimated using the Geographically-adjusted Index of Relative Supply (GIRS) and categorised as low (0-3) or moderate-to-high (4-8) for analysis and testing associations with multiple covariates. Population, clinic, and individual-level data were analysed using principal component analysis and logistic regression to identify the factors associated with workforce distribution. Of the 68 SA2s analysed, 25 SA2s (representing 45 suburbs) were identified as having a low workforce supply, defined by a GIRS score of ≤3. These areas were compared to those with a moderate-to-high supply (GIRS > 3) to assess the differences in service performance. A principal component analysis identified three key components within the data: service usage, health service providers, and service efficiency. A logistic regression analysis revealed that areas with a low workforce supply were significantly more likely to experience reduced service usage (OR = 3.3, = 0.037, CI [0.09-0.92]), indicating fewer patient interactions and lower engagement with mental health services. In addition, these areas demonstrated a lower service efficiency as evidenced by longer wait times (OR = 3.7, = 0.002, CI [1.62-8.50]), suggesting that workforce shortages directly impact timely access to health care. The findings revealed disparities in workforce supply across different urban locations, with low-supply areas facing tangible challenges in service accessibility and operational efficiency. These findings highlight the need for targeted mental health workforce planning. Developing and implementing best practice guidelines is essential to effectively manage service demands and reduce waitlists.
本研究旨在全面了解当前心理健康服务人员队伍，以及影响其在西澳大利亚州北部都会区卫生服务中心成人社区心理健康服务中分布的因素。使用地理调整后的相对供应指数（GIRS）估算了北部都会统计区2级（SA2 - 澳大利亚统计地理标准）的心理健康服务人员队伍供应情况，并将其分为低供应（0 - 3）或中高供应（4 - 8），以分析和测试与多个协变量的关联。使用主成分分析和逻辑回归分析人口、诊所和个人层面的数据，以确定与人员队伍分布相关的因素。在分析的68个SA2中，有25个SA2（代表45个郊区）被确定为人员供应低，定义为GIRS得分≤3。将这些地区与中高供应地区（GIRS > 3）进行比较，以评估服务绩效的差异。主成分分析确定了数据中的三个关键成分：服务使用情况、医疗服务提供者和服务效率。逻辑回归分析显示，人员供应低的地区服务使用减少的可能性显著更高（OR = 3.3， = 0.037，CI [0.09 - 0.92]），表明患者互动较少，对心理健康服务的参与度较低。此外，这些地区的服务效率较低，等待时间较长就是证明（OR = 3.7， = 0.002，CI [1.62 - 8.50]），这表明人员短缺直接影响及时获得医疗保健。研究结果揭示了不同城市地区人员供应的差异，低供应地区在服务可及性和运营效率方面面临切实挑战。这些发现凸显了有针对性的心理健康人员队伍规划的必要性。制定和实施最佳实践指南对于有效管理服务需求和减少等候名单至关重要。
