Access and utilisation of allied health services among community dwelling rural adults aged 50 years and older living with chronic conditions: a scoping review

Background: Allied health professionals provide essential healthcare services to older adults with chronic health conditions. However, there are challenges to access and utilisation of these services for rural communities and limited scope of the existing literature. Objective: To conduct a scoping review of the literature related to access and utilisation of allied health services for older adults living in rural areas. Design: Scoping review. Methods: Four databases were searched. Articles were included based on pre-determined criteria and were limited to articles published between 2010 and 2023. Data were extracted with a focus on access and utilisation factors, enablers and barriers related to care recipients, care providers, other stakeholders and the healthcare system. Results: Thirty four studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies focussed on accessibility from the perspective of the consumer (n = 31), whilst few studies focussed on the perspective of the care providers (n = 3). 'Availability and accommodation' was the most frequently explored dimension of accessibility in the included papers, from the consumers' perspective (n = 18) and from the health system (n = 15). Conclusion: This is the first scoping review to improve understanding of older adults' access to and utilisation of allied health services in rural areas. Understanding the most impactful accessibility dimensions can enhance strategies for improving access and utilisation of allied health services, especially when tailored to the local context. More studies are needed to understand accessibility of allied health services in rural areas from the perspective of care providers.