Scoping review of the application of the Behavioural Model for Vulnerable Populations to people experiencing homelessness

ABSTRACT

This scoping review investigates the characteristics included in the Behavioural Model for Vulnerable Populations applied to people experiencing homelessness. This review underpins the development of a novel tool to assess the health needs and capacity of people experiencing homelessness to access health care in Australia. Included papers were primary studies, written in English, published from 2000 onwards, participants aged 18 years and over and experiencing homelessness. Databases searched were CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, between March to June 2020. The Joanna Briggs Appraisal criteria were used to quality appraise included studies.

Fifteen papers met the eligibility criteria and were included. The total participant sample size was 42,152. Provision of professional support and case management were significant factors in increasing access to care for people experiencing homelessness. Findings suggest that the Behavioural Model for Vulnerable Populations is a valuable tool in identifying health needs and predicting health service use. Included studies indicate that using the Behavioural Model for Vulnerable Populations can facilitate provision of targeted health services to people experiencing homelessness by identifying unmet needs. The findings of this review are valuable to health service design and policy, to increase access to care for people experiencing homelessness.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• Behavioural Model for Vulnerable Populations
• healthcare
• scoping review
• access to care
• health service use

Acknowledgments

This review was funded by the St Vincent’s Inclusive Health Program Applied Medical Research fund.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by St Vincent’s Inclusive Health Program Applied Medical Research Fund.

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth Grech

Elizabeth Grech is a registered nurse and research assistant in the Homeless Health Research Team, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Erin Longbottom

Erin Longbottom is the Nursing Unit Manager Homeless Health Service, and a member of the Homeless Health Research Team, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Jasmine Yee

Jasmine Yee is a Peer Support worker for the Homeless Health Service and a member of the Homeless Health Research Team, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Ruth Hastings

Ruth Hastings is a social worker and mental health clinician for the Homeless Health Service and a member of the Homeless Health Research Team, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Amy Aitkenhead

Amy Aitkenhead is a Nurse Practitioner for the Homeless Health Service and a member of the Homeless Health Research Team, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Amy Cason

Amy Cason is a Psychologist and Manager for the Homeless Health Service and a member of the Homeless Health Research Team, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Karin Obrecht

Karin Obrecht is a psychiatrist for the Homeless Health Service and a member of the Homeless Health Research Team, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, and a conjoint Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales.

Jane Currie

Jane Currie is an Associate Professor at the Queensland University of Technology and an honorary researcher and lead of the Homeless Health Research Team, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.