Connecting Healthcare with Income Maximisation Services: A Systematic Review on the Health, Wellbeing and Financial Impacts for Families with Young Children

Jade Burley, Nora Samir, Anna Price, Anneka Parker, Anna Zhu, Valsamma Eapen, Diana Contreras-Suarez, Natalie Schreurs, Kenny Lawson, Raghu Lingam, Rebekah Grace, Shanti Raman, Lynn Kemp, Rebecca Bishop, Sharon Goldfeld and Susan Woolfenden
Additional contact information
Jade Burley: Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
Nora Samir: Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
Anna Price: Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Anneka Parker: Population Child Health Research Group, School of Women and Children’s Health, University of NSW, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Anna Zhu: School of Economics, Marketing and Finance, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Valsamma Eapen: BestSTART-SWS, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
Diana Contreras-Suarez: Melbourne Institute, Applied Economic & Social Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
Natalie Schreurs: Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Kenny Lawson: Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
Raghu Lingam: Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
Rebekah Grace: BestSTART-SWS, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
Shanti Raman: BestSTART-SWS, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
Lynn Kemp: Centre for the Transformation of Early Education and Child Health (TeEACH), Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Rebecca Bishop: Wesley Mission, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2500, Australia
Sharon Goldfeld: Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Susan Woolfenden: Population Child Health Research Group, School of Women and Children’s Health, University of NSW, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Diana Contreras Suarez

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Financial counselling and income-maximisation services have the potential to reduce financial hardship and its associated burdens on health and wellbeing in High Income Countries. However, referrals to financial counselling services are not systematically integrated into existing health service platforms, thus limiting our ability to identify and link families who might be experiencing financial hardship. Review evidence on this is scarce. The purpose of this study is to review “healthcare-income maximisation” models of care in high-income countries for families of children aged between 0 and 5 years experiencing financial difficulties, and their impacts on family finances and the health and wellbeing of parent(s)/caregiver(s) or children. A systematic review of the MEDLINE, EMBase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, ProQuest, Family & Society Studies Worldwide, Cochrane Library, and Informit Online databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A total of six studies (five unique samples) met inclusion criteria, which reported a total of 11,603 families exposed to a healthcare-income maximisation model. An average annual gain per person of £1661 and £1919 was reported in two studies reporting one Scottish before–after study, whereby health visitors/midwives referred 4805 clients to money advice services. In another UK before–after study, financial counsellors were attached to urban primary healthcare centres and reported an average annual gain per person of £1058. The randomized controlled trial included in the review reported no evidence of impacts on financial or non-financial outcomes, or maternal health outcomes, but did observe small to moderate effects on child health and well-being. Small to moderate benefits were seen in areas relating to child health, preschool education, parenting, child abuse, and early behavioral adjustment. There was a high level of bias in most studies, and insufficient evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare-income maximisation models of care. Rigorous (RCT-level) studies with clear evaluations are needed to assess efficacy and effectiveness.

Keywords: child health and wellbeing; poverty; income maximisation; public health; healthcare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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