Workshop #1

Facilitator:
Dr Douglas IR Boyle
Prof Siaw-Teng Liaw

Applied Health Informatics: What is not being shared that should be?

‘Imagine we had access to definitive patient medical records, gathered automatically from all corners of the Australian Health System. What pieces of clinical information would most alter and improve patient care delivery in a General Practice setting?'

Although such a ‘Medical Oracle' may not be feasible, moving patient data electronically does now happen. National IT projects are starting to achieve this, but are the National priorities the same as a GP's? These questions will be investigated, with a view to highlighting the nations most burning issues using a nominal group technique.

An example of what can be achieved through the sharing of clinical data will be demonstrated (Scottish Care Information - Diabetes Collaboration (SCI-DC).* There are substantial barriers to engaging primary care in research. Perhaps if we have a better answer to the question ‘What's in it for me?' an improved collaborative track record would result. If managed properly, data for research can be a by-product of clinical data as it moves between care providers.

*Scottish Care Information - Diabetes Collaboration (SCI-DC). SCI-DC is the Scottish National implementation of the Diabetes Audit and Research in Tayside , Scotland (DARTS) project. This collaborative venture now shares comprehensive patient prescribing and diabetes data on a daily basis across approximately 1,200 general practices and 50 hospitals in Scotland . Dr Douglas Boyle was the Technical Architect of the DARTS / SCI-DC system prior to moving to Australia in April 2006.

Workshop #2

Facilitators:
Prof Jane Gunn
Prof Chris v Weel
Prof Nick Zwar

PBRNs - essential to health of the nation..... Or an obscure hobby???

Primary care based research is essential to excellent health care. GPs and practice nurses recognise the value of research but struggle to commit the time and resources needed to participate. As a result important studies looking at issues of major national importance to practice and policy are rarely undertaken in Australia. This workshop will examine how Practice-Based Research Networks can provide a setting and structure to conduct this important research in general practice.

This workshop, to be conducted jointly by University of New South Wales (Prof Nick Zwar) and the University of Melbourne (Prof Jane Gunn), will draw on the extensive experience of international expert Professor Chris van Weel.

Overseas models and emerging models of PBRNs from around Australia will be discussed.

This will include consideration of:

• Network models including issues of size and generalist versus topic focus
• Structure and resources
• GPs and practice staff engagement
• Involvement of Divisions

View workshop report

Workshop #3

Facilitators:
Jane Gray
A Prof Michael Greco

Improving Patient and Carer Experience

Jane Gray will address the following:

• Understand how your service is currently being experienced by patients and their carers
• Identify what is already working well for patients and carers so you and your team can retain the best aspects of your service
• Identify high priority areas for improvement

In this session, you will hear about NSW Health's recent experience in interviewing patients and carers; analysing what they said; and working as a team to act on the findings and improve patient journeys.

Patients are the end users of healthcare services and it is their experience of care that often defines their response to treatment and choice of healthcare provider. In this session Assoc. Professor Michael Greco will introduce the key factors that patient value, and how these can be measured and used in feedback both to managers and clinicians to produce change. The session will explore how patients can be involved in shaping change based on the feedback from these surveys. Some examples will be drawn from the UK experience where patient surveys are an integral part of the new GP contract, and becoming more prominent in appraisal and future revalidation of all doctors. Applications in the Australian context will be explored.

Workshop #4

Facilitator:
Prof Nicky Britten

Meta ethnography and the synthesis of qualitative research

The necessarily focused, case-based, and smaller scale of qualitative research mitigates against the development of a cumulative evidence base. Research synthesis is an emerging approach to integrating the findings of research to provide such a cumulative resource. This workshop will explore the synthesis of qualitative research, drawing on a technique called meta-ethnography developed by Noblit and Hare. The workshop will adopt an interactive learning format based on small group work. We will work with 4 previously selected papers to identify key concepts, and begin the process of 'reciprocal translation' - comparing and developing the analytical concepts. We will then use mapping and charting techniques to display and reconsider the emerging findings. In the final part of the workshop we will consider different approaches to presenting the synthesis results, and provide an opportunity to reflect on the synthesis process.

Workshop #5

Facilitators:
Prof Nicholas Glasgow
Prof Bonnie Sibbald

Addressing the workforce challenge: APHCRI's Stream Six - the number of workers, optimising the workforce and the place of generalism

In Stream Six of its research program, APHCRI is focusing on developing policy options that address the pressing primary health care workforce shortages. Nine research teams (spokes) are engaged in the activity which makes use of the linkage and exchange approach APHCRI began to use in Stream Four. This brings policy advisors and researchers together in an effort to make research more relevant to policy. The workshop will include consideration of this approach with a particular focus on the systematic review and synthesis method, and consideration of the early results of the reviews to date. The workshop will be of interest to researchers, policy advisors and others addressing the workforce challenge. Professor Bonnie Sibbald will participate as an international expert in the field. 

Workshop #6

Facilitators:
Vanessa Traynor
Prof Anthony Zwi

Writing for change

This workshop is for those interested in developing their writing skills and practice, with a focus on the place of writing and publishing in the research-practice-policy interface. The importance of peer review and current trends in publishing, such as Open Access and e-publication, will be key features of the workshop. Participants will learn about the importance of these trends to primary health care research and practice.

The workshop is intended as a very practical and hands on session, divided into three parts. During the first session we will cover: the key features of good writing practice, practical tips for developing writing skills, and how these can be applied. During the second session, participants will learn about current trends in publishing, the peer review process and get some practical advice on where to publish the results of their research. During the final part of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to work on a piece of writing they would like to develop.

All participants are required to bring along a piece of writing (ideally a draft journal article or structured abstract) to work on during the workshop.

A resource pack will be provided to participants.