Exploring the Role of Peer Health Navigators in the Australian Health System: A Qualitative Interview Study.

Background: Peer health navigators (PHNs) work with their own communities to provide health navigation support and connect with patients through shared experience and identity. The aim of this study was to explore the role of PHNs in the Australian health system from the perspective of managers and...

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Publicado en:Health Expectations Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 1 - 11
Autores principales: Cvetanovska, Natali, Said, Simone, Jessup, Rebecca L.
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Oct2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Oct2025
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        atl: Exploring the Role of Peer Health Navigators in the Australian Health System: A Qualitative Interview Study.
      aug:
        au:
          Cvetanovska, Natali
          Said, Simone
          Jessup, Rebecca L.
        affil: Staying Well and Hospital Without Walls Program, Northern Health, Epping, Australia
      sug:
        subj:
          Health Care Delivery Australia
          Patient Navigation
          Peer Group
          Community Health Workers
          Professional Role
          Health Facility Administrators Australia
          Expert Clinicians
          Attitude of Health Personnel Evaluation
          Human
          Qualitative Studies
          Australia
          Community Role
          Funding Source
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Descriptive Research
          Thematic Analysis
          Conceptual Framework
          Knowledge
          Interpersonal Relations
          Professional Boundaries
          Supervisors and Supervision
          Support, Psychosocial
          Naturalistic Inquiry
          Data Analysis Software
          Structured Interview Guides
      ab: Background: Peer health navigators (PHNs) work with their own communities to provide health navigation support and connect with patients through shared experience and identity. The aim of this study was to explore the role of PHNs in the Australian health system from the perspective of managers and experts, with a focus on understanding how to build and sustain this workforce in Australia. Methods: Individuals who employ and manage PHNs, as well as subject matter experts in the navigation field from a range of health and academic organisations across Australia, participated in semi‐structured interviews. A descriptive qualitative approach based on naturalistic inquiry was used to analyse the interview data. Themes were framed around an adapted socio‐ecological model using four levels: individual, interpersonal, organisational and societal (combined community and policy). Results: Seventeen themes were identified within the four levels of the adapted socio‐ecological model: individual (personal attributes, knowledge and skills, lived experience), interpersonal (boundary setting: professional, boundary setting: professional meets personal, boundary setting: self‐care, supervision and debriefing), organisational (recruitment, qualifications and prerequisites, clear job description and expectations, training, role duties and tasks) and societal (value of peer navigators in Australia, government support, funding, strategic approach to workforce planning, workforce governance). Conclusion: PHNs are a valuable part of the Australian health system. A cohesive, strategic, national approach is required to ensure the development of the workforce and the sustainability of programs and allow for navigators to be embedded within the Australian health system. Patient or Public Contribution: This study is part of a larger project that developed formal education and training courseware materials for health navigators in Australia. The materials were co‐designed with patients, managers and subject matter experts. In this paper, we sought the perspective from managers and experts across Australia who work with diverse groups of patients.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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