Improving allied health service use for type 2 diabetes management in Australia: a scoping review of barriers, enablers and policy opportunities

OBJECTIVES AND IMPORTANCE OF STUDY: The aim of this scoping review was to: (1) consolidate the barriers and enablers to allied health service use for type 2 diabetes (T2D) management, and (2) identify knowledge gaps and priorities to inform future research and policy development. METHODS: This scoping review has been reported in accordance with the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Electronic databases, including Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, INFORMIT, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health were searched from 1 January 2005 to 18 April 2025 for relevant articles. Peer-reviewed articles investigating barriers and enablers to allied health service use for T2D management in Australia were included. Barriers and enablers influencing: (1) patient utilisation of services, (2) General practictioner (GP) referral to services, and (3) allied health practitioners' delivery of services were extracted and categorised according to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). RESULTS: A total of 44 articles (43 studies) were included. A total of 32 themes were identified across 11 TDF domains. Key barriers to service use included limited available services, workforce shortages, long wait lists, high out-of-pocket costs, a lack of GP referral, and limited patient and GP awareness of the role and value of allied health services. Enablers included person-centred care and culturally tailored service delivery. The Medicare Chronic Disease Management scheme was identified as both an enabler (facilitating use of and referral to services) and a barrier (limiting utilisation and delivery of services due to inadequate rebates and session caps). Few studies examined differences in barriers and enablers by age group or sex. CONCLUSIONS: This review identifies opportunities to strengthen multidisciplinary primary care management of T2D. Barriers and enablers to allied health service use are multifaceted, and addressing them will require targeted policy action, including workforce investment, a redesign of the Medicare Chronic Disease Management scheme, new integrated models of care and enhanced practitioner training. Future research should explore sociodemographic disparities in service use to inform equitable service delivery.