Open Access Journal 

Articles of interest

Guidance for developers of health research reporting guidelines   

Moher D, Schulz KF, Simera I, Altman DG. (2010). PLoS Med, 7(2).
Inadequate reporting of research study design and context significantly undermines the reliability and interpretability of results. This paper provides practical guidance on how to develop a reporting guideline, including a freely available 18-step checklist. It will be of help to potential and practicing researchers in the process of publishing articles or reports. [Abstract precis by PHC RIS].
See: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000217

APHCRI National Tour 2010 

APHCRI staff will provide a briefing to primary health care researchers about future research directions. They will outline what APHCRI has achieved in the last five years and how the Institute is aligning its research programs with the national reform agenda over the next five years. The Tour schedule is listed on the web.
See: http://www.anu.edu.au/aphcri/national_tour/#about

Applying the quality improvement collaborative method to process redesign: A multiple case study 

Vos L, Duckers MLA, Wagner C , van Merode GG. (2010). Implementation Science, 5:19.
Quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) are widely used, despite limited evidence underlying this method. A QIC is a method for testing and implementing evidence-based changes quickly across organisations (eg reducing the time between the first visit to the outpatient's clinic and the start of treatment, reducing the in-hospital length of stay). To extend the knowledge, this study explored the applicability of the QIC method to provide an evidence-base about the conditions under which QICs can be used. This is a timely and highly relevant study with findings relevant to improving health systems. [Abstract précis by PHC RIS]. 
See: http://www.implementationscience.com/content/5/1/19

Experiences of the new role of advanced practice nurses in Swedish primary health care: A qualitative study 

Lindblad E, Hallman EB, Gillsjö C, Lindblad U, Fagerström L. (2010). Int J Nurs Pract, Feb;16(1):69-74.
The role, experiences and scope of practice of advanced practice nurses in primary health care is evaluated in this study. The Swedish health care system provides the context for this evaluation but findings are likely relevant to the local Australian position. The qualitative evaluation study draws on the experiences of advanced practice nurses, and their supervising general practitioners. Recommendations for success of an advanced practice nurse role are outlined. [Abstract precis by PHC RIS].
See: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/123265676/HTMLSTART

Forum on systems and complexity in medicine and health

The 4th special edition titled the Forum on systems and complexity in medicine and health has been published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. Includes articles such as Complexity in dynamical health systems – transforming science and theory, and knowledge and practice and Implications of complex adaptive systems theory for interpreting research about health care organizations.
See: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123282916/abstract

The "Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL)" longitudinal survey - Protocol and baseline data for a prospective cohort study of Australian doctors' workforce participation 

Joyce CM, Scott A, Jeon S, et al. (2010). BMC Health Services Research, 10:50.
While there is considerable research on medical workforce supply trends, there is little research examining the determinants of labour supply decisions for the medical workforce. The "Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL)" study investigates workforce participation patterns and their determinants using a longitudinal survey of Australian doctors. It aims to generate evidence to support developing effective policy responses to workforce issues such as shortages and maldistribution. This paper describes the study protocol and baseline cohort, including an analysis of response rates and response bias. [Abstract précis extracted from article].
See: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/10/50/abstract

The challenge of co-production: How equal partnerships between professionals and the public are crucial to improving public services

Boyle D and Harris M (2009).
The challenge of co-production is an innovative thought piece that offers both diagnosis and solution to stagnant public policy reform efforts. Co-production, boils down to the notion of  sharing the design and delivery of services with users. Authors from an independent UK body NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) offer co-production as a new way of thinking about public services [that] has the potential to deliver a major shift in the way we provide health, education, policing and other services, in ways that make them much more effective, more efficient, and so more sustainable. [Abstract precis by PHC RIS].
See: http://www.nesta.org.uk/publications/reports/assets/features/the_challenge_of_co-production

The implementation evaluation of primary care groups of practice: A focus on organizational identity 

Rodriguez C, Pozzebon M. (2010). BMC Family Practice, 11:15
This article provides an international perspective on strategies for improving health care system performance. It details the specificities and capacity of 'family medicine groups' which is an organisational innovation implemented by the Health Ministry of Quebec (Canada) to overcome systemic deficiencies in terms of accessibility and continuity of care. The results of an in-depth longitudinal case study that evaluated the family medicine group program are provided. Findings provide lessons for those interested in quality improvement through team-based care (eg the integration of advanced nurse practitioners into the family medicine group). [Abstract precis by PHC RIS].
See: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/11/15

New reports

Models and Frameworks for Implementing Evidence-Based Practice: Linking Evidence to Action  

Rycroft-Malone J & Bucknall T (Eds). Models and frameworks for implementing evidence-based practice is the first of three books on implementing evidence based practice in a new Evidence-based nursing series.  It provides a critical analysis of a number of different models and approaches to the implementation of evidence-based practice, culminating in an integrative review, narrative synthesis and likely future directions in the final chapters. Models and frameworks for implementing evidence-based practice provides a resource to help readers make decisions about the appropriateness of the use of internationally recognised, widely evaluated implementation models. Of note is that Editor Tracy Bucknall is Associate Professor, The University of Melbourne and Associate Editor, Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing.
See: http://www.acco.be/medical/en/publication/all/9781405175944/models+and+frameworks+for+implementing+evidence-based+practice

Translating Chronic Illness Research into Practice

Kralik D, Paterson B & Coates V. (Eds)
Translating Chronic Illness Research into Practice presents recent developments in chronic illness research and their implications for clinical practice. It delivers both a synthesis and a critique of current chronic illness research and its applications to chronic illness prevention, treatment and care. It promotes advances in knowledge about chronic illness, including discussion of the future directions for chronic illness research and gaps in present knowledge about effective chronic illness prevention, treatment and care. Key features: Contains contributions from internationally renowned researchers in chronic illness; Focuses on three key concepts, translating research into practice, chronic illness and practice, and bridges the boundaries between them; Is applicable to an international, multi-disciplinary readership; For researchers and practitioners across health disciplines.
See: http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405159650.html

Resources

NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal and Register

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have launched a new national Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal that will provide links to current Australian guidelines developed by governments, professional colleges, specialty societies and non-government agencies. The new portal is a ‘one stop shop’ for clinicians, researchers, policy makers and consumers to access guidelines developed during the preceding five years for use in the Australian health care system. In addition to the Portal, the NHMRC has developed a national clinical practice Guidelines in Development Register. This Register contains information about clinical practice guidelines that are planned or currently being developed in Australia.
See: http://www.clinicalguidelines.gov.au

News items

Best practice in a scarring role: Wound Healing Laboratory

Derek Parker From: The Australian February 27, 2010
This article features PHC researcher Allison Cowin, now head of the Wound Healing Laboratory at the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute in Adelaide. Cowin and her team recently received a $517,500 project grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council to support their basic research, as well as a $529,450 development grant to advance commercialisation of a treatment they're developing that uses disease-fighting antibodies to speed up the healing of chronic wounds.  
See: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/best-practice-in-a-scarring-role-researchers/story-e6frg8y6-1225834523787

Rudd's hospital overhaul to cost states $50b

By online political correspondent Emma Rodgers, 3 March 2010. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has unveiled a sweeping national plan to take control of Australia's hospital funding by clawing back $50 billion of GST revenue from the states and territories.
See: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/03/2834814.htm?section=justin

Media releases

Investing in the Aged Care Workforce - $9.5 Million for Nursing Scholarships

On 1 March 2010 Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot announced that $9.5 million in nursing  scholarships are being made available to train or upskill up to 680 people as part of the Rudd Government’s investment in the aged care workforce. Addressing representatives of the aged care sector in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia at the 19th annual Tri-state aged care conference in Mount Gambier, Minister Elliot said that the scholarships would play an important role in improving quality of care in aged care today and help to build the aged care workforce of the future.
See: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr10-je-je018.htm

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing media releases

Prime Minister announces A National Health & Hospitals Network for Australia

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made a major announcement regarding health in Australia, releasing the document, A National Health & Hospitals Network for Australia in response to the yourHealth consultation.
See: http://www.yourhealth.gov.au

Conferences/seminars/forums/workshop

AGPN eHealth Conference 2010

Connecting the health care sector
The AGPN eHealth Conference aims to bring together organisations and individuals involved or interested in eHealth policy and implementation in the primary health care sector to share thoughts and ideas on future directions in eHealth and how the sector can best collaborate in making an integrated eHealth infrastructure a reality.
The Conference will focus on the following key topic areas:
- privacy and security in a connected world
- scalable and sustainable eHealth implementation
- implications of sharing patient health information
- engaging the practitioner
- change management to enable implementation
- barriers to eHealth uptake and ways to overcome them
Date: Jun 16 2010 - Jun 17 2010
Call for abstracts: May 12 2010
Registration close: May 13 2010
Location: Albert Park VIC
Phone: 02 6228 0800
Email: agpnreception@agpn.com.au
Website: http://www.agpn.com.au/programs/ehealth-and-information-management/agpn-ehealth-conference-2010

AGPN National Forum 2010

Connecting Care
Be front and centre in the debate on National Health Reform and the implications for the General Practice Network, the broader primary health care sector, and the Australian health system.
Australia’s future general practice and primary health care system is to be built on and around primary health care organisations (PHCOs) which are to be created from the existing General Practice Network. Join our National Forum in November to be involved in discussion on:

- What are the key aspects of health reform and how will they result in better Connecting Care?
- What does driving primary health care reform mean for stakeholders?
- What progress has been made with establishing the first round of PHCOs – and what are the implications for those that are to follow soon afterwards?
- What are the critical success factors in transformational primary health care change?
- What future models of care will result in better health outcomes?
- How do we embrace reform while ensuring ongoing member engagement and support?
- What are the characteristics of new or enhanced partnerships essential to engage others central to primary health care reform – including nurses, allied health, community health, Local Hospital Networks and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector – as well as consumers and other community groups?
- What systems and processes are required to enable integrated care to best meet the needs of communities and individuals?
- Untapped potential: what are the opportunities to better integrate health and social care through PHCOs?
Date: Nov 03 2010 - Nov 06 2010
Call for abstracts: Jul 09 2010
Early bird registration: Jun 30 2010
Location: Perth WA
Convenor: AGPN
Phone: 02 6228 0835
Email: twong@agpn.com.au
Website: http://www.gpnetworkforum.com.au/2010

Emerging findings from the English NHS Health Reforms Evaluation Programme

Free public lecture
This presentation by Nicholas Mays summarises recent research findings on the impact of the set of market-related reforms to the English NHS drawn from a major programme of inter-related studies commissioned by the English Department of Health.
Date: Mar 16 2010 - Mar 16 2010
Location: Ultimo NSW
Phone: 02 9514 4723
Email: sarah.green@chere.uts.edu.au
Website: http://www.hsraanz.org/Files/Mays%20Sydney%20Lecture.pdf

Vacancies, fellowships & scholarships

Director of Research - Eastern Health

Eastern Health, and its university partners (Monash, Deakin, LaTrobe) are seeking an outstanding appointee for the new position of Director of Research. The appointee will lead, promote and plan research activity across the organisation. They will give guidance and supervision to the manager of the Office of Research and Ethics. The successful candidate will: preferably have had a clinical background and will have the respect and acknowledgment of their peers; A postgraduate research qualification and/or a distinguished record of research; A good understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies; A track record of obtaining external grants for research and will have supervised postgraduate research students; A strong teaching abilities, and highly developed skills of leadership, networking and management. The successful candidate may apply to one of Eastern Health’s University partners for an academic appointment at a level appropriate to the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience. This is a part time appointment of 2 - 3 days per week. By negotiation this could be combined with a clinical appointment (according to the applicants background and skills). Appointment will be for a fixed term of three years. Subject to performance and other criteria, a further term would be negotiable. A competitive remuneration package will be negotiated for an outstanding candidate. Relocation travel, removal allowance and salary packaging are available. Enquiries to: Dr Colin Feekery, Executive Director Medical Services and Research, Eastern Health Telephone +61 3 9895 3269, email Colin.Feekery@easternhealth.org.au
Closing date: Mar 13 2010
See: http://easternhealth.mhr.com.au/jobdetail.asp?jobid=74539

Morgan Stanley Pediatrics Fellowship

The Fellowship supports Australian or American researchers who wish to conduct leading research in pediatrics at a top US or Australian educational/research institution.  The Fellowship is open for post graduate or post doctoral research in the area of medicine particularly with a focus on early childhood and offers for up to US $25,000 a year. The Fellowship will open in the 2010 Australia to US program and be offered the following year in the US to Australia program.
Closing date: Apr 15 2010
See: http://www.americanaustralian.org/morganstanleyfellowship/

PHCRED Researcher Development Program Fellow Position 2010, Discipline of General Practice, The University of Adelaide 

The PHCRED Program is offering the opportunity for primary health care professionals including GPs and part-time higher degree students to undertake their own research or further develop current projects with the support of the Discipline of General Practice. Individuals undertaking a higher degree by full time research are not eligible for funding under this program. Fixed-term positions available immediately to 31 December 2010, on a part-time basis to be negotiated. The program offers up to $30,000 per candidate including research related costs. Full-time salary: (Level A) $51,260 - $69,563 per annum. Contact: Dr KarinRied - Email: karin.ried@adelaide.edu.au or Phone: 8303 6281.
Closing date: Mar 17 2010
See: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/jobs/current/1906/index.html

Grants & tenders

PHCRED Research Seeding Grants and Bursaries 2010, Discipline of General Practice, The University of Adelaide - SA researchers only 

The Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Program (PHCRED) is offering a number of research seeding grants and bursaries for primary health care researchers and professionals wishing to undertake a research project with the support of the Discipline of General Practice (DGP). Grants are primarily for researchers within South Australia, and/or with a connection to the DGP at The University of Adelaide. The program will provide funding and supervision to undertake primary health care related research that is both aligned with the Discipline’s research themes and reflects priority research areas that have been nominated by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The Discipline of General Practice’s research interests include cardiovascular, respiratory, and mental health, medical workforce, nutritional health, and complementary/ integrative medicine. Enquiries to: Dr Karin Ried - Phone: 8303 6281 or Email: karin.ried@adelaide.edu.au  
Closing date: Mar 19 2010
See: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/gp/phcred/

Calls for submissions

2010 Primary Health Care Research Snapshot: Call for submissions 

PHC RIS is producing the Snapshot of Australian primary health care research 2010 (as we did in 2008 & 2009) and we welcome your submissions. Snapshot 2010 will showcase high quality practice and/or policy relevant PHC research findings demonstrating the capacity to improve the health of Australians. PHC RIS will promote this publication by launching it at the 2010 PHC Research Conference in Darwin 30 June–2 July 2010, producing 1500 hard copies and an on-line version of Snapshot 2010 and promoting it through this Bulletin, our website and our newsletter PHC RIS infonet. In the past year we have had over 5000 website hits to our on-line Snapshot 2008 and 2009.
As one person put it "The quality of the product demonstrates confidence and pride in the fact that PHC research is newsworthy and influential.  It provides a useful benchmark to which all PHC researchers can aspire. It will become increasingly a document in which researchers will want to be listed - as something worthy of special mention in the CV."
Submissions are welcome if your research: was funded through the PHCRED strategy, is recently completed; produced findings relevant to policy and/or practice and specifically to the health reform agenda and to the draft national PHC strategy; has made an impact on PHC practice and/or policy; and is outstanding.
To apply simply go to the web page, read the user guidelines and submit your research project in the template provided by email to phcris@flinders.edu.au before Friday 12 March 2010.
See: http://www.phcris.org.au/phcred/snapshot/index.php

Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010

On 24 February 2010 the Senate referred the Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010; for inquiry and report. The Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010 establishes the national e-health Healthcare Identifiers Service to provide that patients, healthcare providers and provider organisations can be consistently identified. The Healthcare Identifiers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010 (introduced with the Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010) amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 to authorise the Chief Executive Officer of Medicare to delegate functions to support the Healthcare Identifiers Service (HIS); and Privacy Act 1988 to: provide that the HIS comes under the jurisdiction of the Privacy Commissioner; and make amendments consequential on the Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Act 2009.
The following issues were outlined for the Committee to consider during the inquiry:
- privacy safeguards in the Bill
- operation of the Healthcare Identifier Service, including access to the Identifier
- relationship to national e-health agenda and electronic health records.
The Committee is seeking written submissions from interested individuals and organisations.
Closing date: Mar 05 2010
See: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/healthcare_identifier/info.htm

NHMRC Australia Fellowship for Health and Medical Research

The NHMRC has extended an invitation to apply for the Australia Fellowship for Health and Medical Research - funding to commence in 2011
The aims of the scheme are to:
- suppport the most outstanding and creative health and/or medical researchers across the range of disciplines in biomedical, clinical, health services and public health research;
- foster the expansion of the scale and scope of Australian health and medical research including innovative research that is transformative and with high impact potential;
- build excellent research teams in Australia, foster mentoring and collaboration and provide opportunities for talented researchers;
- undertake research that is of major importance, potentially high impact and of significant benefit to Australians.
In this fifth funding round, NHMRC particularly encourages applications from health and medical researchers, whose record of research achievements and vision for the Fellowship, contribute to the translation of discoveries into improvements in clinical care, health services and public health.
Closing date: Mar 25 2010
See: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants/apply/career/index.htm