Healthcare utilisation and challenges to healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of Australian adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Healthcare utilisation was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, adversely affecting population health. This study investigated healthcare access and utilisation during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: The Optimise Study recruited Victorian adults during September 2020-December 2021. This cross-sectional study examined difficulty accessing healthcare, changes experienced in healthcare utilisation and concerns related to healthcare. RESULTS: Among 779 participants, one-fifth had difficulty accessing healthcare. Participants with chronic illness/es (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-3.30) or earning $1-49,999 per year (aOR: 2.31, 95%CI: 1.14-4.93) or speaking a language other than English at home (aOR: 2.70, 95%CI: 1.38-5.30) had an increased odds of reporting difficulty accessing healthcare. Among 779 participants, the two biggest concerns were delaying or avoiding seeking care (24.4%) and anxiety associated with attending services because of the COVID-19 pandemic (24.0%). DISCUSSION: Future pandemic planning should consider strategies to ensure clear and timely communication with people about how to continue accessing healthcare in emergency situations.