Table 3 Percentage of reviewed studies reporting each overarching and specific barrier to specialist outpatient care (n = 74)

28.4 (21)

[32–34, 37, 39, 40, 52, 55, 58, 61–63, 67, 68, 71, 76, 77, 79, 89, 93, 95]

Delays

6.8 (5)

Provider availability

8.1 (6)

Consultation time

6.8 (5)

Service availability

6.8 (5)

Referral

11.0 (8)

14.9 (11)

[33, 36, 37, 54, 60, 61, 65, 67, 69, 77, 79]

Environment, parking

9.4 (7)

Transport

5.4 (4)

Professional practice location

2.7 (2)

Lodgings

1.4 (1)

23.0 (17)

[19, 32, 36, 39, 47, 49, 55, 57, 61, 69, 74, 75, 83, 87, 96, 98, 103]

Medical fees

5.4 (4)

Health insurance

10.8 (8)

Prescription fees

4.1 (3)

Cost of illness, economic

4.1 (3)

Affordability, general

5.4 (4)

25.7 (19)

[32–34, 37, 52, 59, 60, 63, 64, 70, 71, 75, 77, 80, 87, 89, 90, 92, 101]

Appointments and scheduling

4.1 (3)

Wait times

9.5 (7)

Out of hours care

6.8 (5)

Continuity of care

10.8 (8)

Provider contact

4.1 (3)

Accommodation, general

2.7 (2)

75.7 (56)

[18, 19, 32, 34, 36–40, 42, 45, 47, 50–52, 54–57, 59–65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73–80, 84–94, 96, 97, 99–103]

Healthcare disparity, demographic

44.6 (33)

Decisional involvement

16.2 (12)

Health communication

27.0 (20)

Professional-patient relations (interpersonal skills)

17.6 (13)

Choice of professional

2.7 (2)

Clinical competence (technical skills)

8.2 (6)

Patient motivation or willingness to accept care

5.4 (4)

51.4 (38)

[32, 33, 35–37, 41, 43–48, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58–61, 63, 65–67, 69, 71–73, 76, 77, 79–82, 84, 89, 93]

Need assessment, undetected or untreated issues

25.7 (19)

Service amenities

12.2 (9)

Consumer information

32.4 (24)

Patient care team, coordination and medical record

9.5 (7)

Self care

5.4 (4)

Medical errors

2.7 (2)