Using Citizen Science to Address Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditure with Aboriginal Communities in the Far West of South Australia: A Protocol

Courtney Ryder (), Ray Mahoney, Patrick Sharpe, Georga Sallows, Karla Canuto, Andrew Goodman, Julieann Coombes, Odette Pearson, Jaquelyne T. Hughes, Marlien Varnfield, Candice Oster, Jonathan Karnon, Claire Drummond, James A. Smith, Shanti Omodei-James, Lavender Otieno, Ali Soltani and Billie Bonevski
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Courtney Ryder: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Ray Mahoney: Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisations, Turrbal and Yuggera, Brisbane 4000, Australia
Patrick Sharpe: Far West Community Partnerships, Kokatha, Mirning and Wirangu Country, Ceduna 5690, Australia
Georga Sallows: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Karla Canuto: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Andrew Goodman: Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisations, Turrbal and Yuggera, Brisbane 4000, Australia
Julieann Coombes: The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Gadigal, Sydney 2000, Australia
Odette Pearson: Wardliparingga, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Jaquelyne T. Hughes: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Marlien Varnfield: Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisations, Turrbal and Yuggera, Brisbane 4000, Australia
Candice Oster: College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Jonathan Karnon: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Claire Drummond: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
James A. Smith: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Shanti Omodei-James: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Lavender Otieno: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Ali Soltani: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Billie Bonevski: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide 5000, Australia

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: Out-of-pocket health expenditure (OOPHE) significantly impacts people with chronic and complex diseases (CCDs) and injuries. Aboriginal communities experience a higher burden of CCDs and injury, along with greater OOPHE inequities. This project aims to develop and implement a social prescribing digital platform (Web App) to reduce OOPHE. It is grounded in citizen science approaches that value the lived experience and knowledge of Aboriginal people in shaping solutions. The project uses a citizen science methodology adapted for these communities, using knowledge interface methodology to weave together Indigenous and Western knowledges. Research methods (Indigenous, quantitative, qualitative) explore the relational nature of OOPHE risks and protective factors through co-design and workshops with Aboriginal participants to develop the Web App. A community-centric developmental evaluation guides the trial and refinement of the platform, allowing for ongoing learning and adaptation. Process measures inform a national scale-up and evaluation framework. Addressing OOPHE is essential to improving health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families living with or at risk of CCDs. This initiative aims to reduce the impact of OOPHE through digital social prescribing, there by connecting people with essential community services to access healthcare, offering a scalable approach to addressing health inequities nationwide.

Keywords: out-of-pocket health expenditure; citizen science; Web App; mixed methods; community engagement; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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