DISCIPLINE OF GENERAL PRACTICE
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Dr Raechelle Rubinstein
Acting PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 02 9818 1400
E: raechelle@gp.med.usyd.edu.au
As the end of the year approaches, our three Researcher Development Program (RDP) Fellows are working towards completing their projects.
These projects are: Threats to Australian Patient Safety (TAPS) - An evaluation of incidents of error in general practice (Dr Meredith Makeham); The TAPS (Threats to Australian Patient Safety) Project - GP Registrars' Perspective (Dr Simone Stromer); Do low impact exercise classes improve physical and mental functioning and quality of life in young people with chronic health issues? (Dr Carol Kefford). Fellows have presented their research at the following conferences, among others: the RACGP Convention, the Australasian Safety and Quality in Health Care Conference, and the Youth Health Conference.
Dr Mary Wong, a GP Registrar who has been attached to our Department this year, is also completing her research project. The project evaluates the preparedness of Australian GPs for an avian influenza outbreak. This research is part of a collaborative project that is being conducted with Hong Kong, Britain and Canada.
We continue to facilitate the activities of the Youth Health Research Interest Group (YHRIG). This research network, which at its outset a number of years ago had some three members, now boasts a membership of around 13 people from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. It meets every two months by teleconference as well as at conferences.
We held regular monthly research seminars throughout the year with presentations by invited speakers, and further seminars are planned for November and December.
We will hold a one-day medical writing and publishing workshop on 7 December 2006. Some 20 people have registered to attend.
 UNIVERSITY DEPT OF RURAL HEALTH NORTHERN NSW
UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE
Rod Cooper
PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 02 6767 8465
E: rodney.cooper@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Researcher Development Program (RDP)
Peter Traise, an Armidale radiographer and RDP Fellow is working on a rural radiography workforce study under the supervision of Tony Smith. In the absence of radiologists, rural radiographers perform an important ancillary role in interpreting radiographs and consulting with the referring doctor. A radiologist's report may not be available for several days after an examination. In the United Kingdom the role of some radiographers has been extended to include reporting on plain film radiographs. If introduced in rural areas of Australia this extended role may improve diagnostic accuracy and patient management. Peter's RDP supported study will assist in informing that potential role extension by evaluating the accuracy of radiographers' image interpretation skills before, during and after an educational intervention. To date, Peter has recruited a study cohort; conducted the initial baseline testing; set up a videoconferencing network and commenced the educational phase of the project. This study is a pilot for a much wider planned project involving both rural and metropolitan radiographers.
Tina Maybury, an Aboriginal Youth Mental Health Project Officer working in Tamworth brought her interest in suicide prevention to her RDP placement. Tina's two-day culturally sensitive Aboriginal Suicide Prevention Package, which she developed after extensive consultation with local Aboriginal communities, service providers and stakeholders, and piloted within the New England region of New South Wales, was recently awarded a NSW Aboriginal Health Award and a prestigious national 2006 Indigenous LiFE Award from Suicide Prevention Australia. With the rate of Aboriginal suicide being 40% higher than in the general Australian population, suicide prevention is a priority mental health issue. Tina's education package helps Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health and education workers to more confidently recognise mental disorders and the early signs of suicide risk within their community.
 CENTRE FOR REMOTE HEALTH RESEARCH
BROKEN HILL DEPARTMENT OF RURAL HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Helen Cameron / Janet Dalby
Manager / Research Assistant
Ph: 08 8080 1281 / 08 8080 1245
E: HCameron@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au
E: JDalby@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au
I was trying to decide what aspect of our capacity building program to write about, and Janet Dalby, one of our long-term participants, offered to tell her story. We thought it would be useful to hear about the program from a participant rather than a coordinator, and her story highlights the long-term relationships and linkages between organisations that characterise the Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health (BHUDRH) RCBI program.
"The PHCRED strategy, and the capacity building efforts of the BHUDRH, have made transition from management towards a career in research and evaluation possible for me.
"In my role as CEO of the Barrier Division of General Practice (based in Broken Hill), I have long been convinced of the importance of research and evaluation. To develop skills in that area I enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Population Health Research Methods when it was first offered by BHUDRH in 2001.
"In 2004 I began pursuing opportunities to prevent overweight and obesity in Outback NSW, where the obesity rate is approximately 10% higher than the state average. The project (Healthy Weight Outback NSW) followed the recommendations of 'Healthy Weight 2008', which proposed whole-of-community approaches to healthy weight promotion. In 2005 the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing funded the Barrier Division of General Practice to undertake a consultation and planning phase for Healthy Weight Outback NSW.
"During this time I took up a Researcher Development Placement with BHUDRH, and conducted a literature search around nutrition and physical activity, and the issues that affect our ability to lead healthy lifestyles. In April 2006 I accepted a Research Assistant position with BHUDRH and have continued with the literature search and social research around 'weight'. I also travelled to the USA for two months in 2006 on a Churchill Fellowship, to study whole-of-community approaches to healthy weight promotion.
"I plan to enrol in a Master of Public Health at University of Sydney next year, and to continue research into healthy weight promotion, both of which will be supported by my ongoing relationship with BHUDRH."
VICPHCRED
 DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL PRACTICE, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Dr Phyllis Lau
Lecturer/Statewide Coordinator
Ph: 03 8344 9042
E: plau@unimelb.edu.au
On 6 October, the Victorian Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Partnership (VicPHCRED) held a very successful 2006 Public RDP (Research Development Program) Day at the University of Melbourne. It was a forum for current RDP research fellows from Monash University and University of Melbourne to present their work-in-progress, and equally important, an opportunity to inform stakeholders of the types of projects undertaken in the program.
Prof Doris Young opened the forum and reiterated the importance of research capacity building for primary health care practitioners. Many staff members, interested primary health care practitioners as well as representatives from the Department of Health and Ageing (Vic office), Rural Workforce Agency (Vic), Health Issues Centre, and Australian Practice Nurse Association were present. Fellows commented that preliminary presentations such as these helped them to focus on their research questions, and feedback from the audience was invaluable in providing them with ideas and solutions to challenges that they experienced in their projects.
RDP fellows and their presentations include -
- Rebecca Clancy - Knowledge and risk of STI/BBV among clients attending a drug and alcohol treatment service (DATS)
- Fiona Duffy - An analysis of the implementation of better outcomes in mental health care initiative access to allied psychological services (ATAPS) project compared with the call for submissions
- Judy Evans - Practice Nurse Adolescent Clinics for Health Evaluation (PANACHE) project 1 - Exploring the barriers and facilitators for practice nurses in undertaking an expanded role in adolescent health care
- Jay Jordens - Exploring the experience: Vietnamese service users in a drug treatment setting
- Christine Mathieson - Patient Engagement And Coaching for Health (PEACH) project 1 - Evaluation of effectiveness of COACH © training in enabling practice nurses to enable patients to manage their type 2 diabetes
- Verity Newnham - Practice Nurse Adolescent Clinics for Health Evaluation (PANACHE) project 2 - Evaluation of the impact of practice nurse led adolescent health care clinics
- Lynne Walker - Patient Engagement and Coaching for Health (PEACH) project 2 - Exploring the attitudes and knowledge of practice nurses in chronic disease management
- Michelle Wills - Exploring the knowledge of practice nurses in viral hepatitis in general practice
- Sandra Wilson - When words fail: the value of dance and movement for women who have suffered family violence
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL PRACTICE
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Hayley Shaw
Research & Postgraduate Administration Coordinator
Ph: 03 8344 9050
E: h.shaw@unimelb.edu.au
This year has seen the establishment of the Primary Care Research Unit (PCRU), which was officially launched on 29 November. PCRU is the result of many years of research capacity building and will provide a vibrant research culture and infrastructure to support research of relevance to general practice and primary care.
Work has commenced on the development of a Practice Based Research Network (PBRN). The PBRN will provide more direct links with community-based health care providers to facilitate clinical and translational research. A PBRN foundation dinner was held in July and was attended by GPs, practice nurses, division representatives, researchers and policy representatives. Professor Nick Zwar (UNSW) presented on practice-based research networks in primary care.
Research training and support has continued with seven fellows appointed under the RDP scheme (including four nurses) working on projects within our research areas of chronic disease, primary care mental health and youth health. Two of our PhD students and one masters student completed their higher degrees. We currently have seven PhD students and nine research masters students enrolled.
We have continued our work as a spoke of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI), with funding received for four projects under streams five and six. Additional research funding has been received from the NHMRC (two project grants), beyondblue and the RACGP.
In the area of dissemination, to date 23 journal articles have been published and two researchers have launched books; Intimate Partner Abuse and Health Professionals: New Approaches to Domestic Violence (Roberts G, Hegarty K & Feder G) and General Practice Psychiatry (Blashki G, Piterman L & Judd F). A number of researchers have presented their work at both national and international conferences as well as presenting on research capacity building through the division network and the RACGP.
 PHCRED Tri State-wide Annual Event Evaluation
Paul Aylward
Tri State-wide Coordinator
The SA/NT/GGT Collaboration Event was held on 21 September 2006, respondents rated the event very highly with regard to raising awareness of PHC research projects with all but one respondent rating 'excellent' or 'good' (35.7%, n=15 indicating 'excellent' - see Fig).
The presentations were also appreciated by the large majority of respondents, with 90.5% (n=38) indicting they were 'excellent' or 'good'. Respondents were unanimous that the event provided excellent or good 'networking / information exchange opportunities'. Posters were appreciated but less so, with 21.4% (n=9) indicting these were 'fair'. This was qualified by a number of respondents indicating a lack of time to read these during what was an event filled day:
- It was difficult to find the time to read them.
- There was so much happening. I wanted to network during breaks more than read the posters but they looked fine.
- All respondents thought that the event was well organised, with 81% (n=34) indicating it was 'excellent'.
- Great organisation.
- An excellent meeting. Well done!
When asked spontaneously what aspects of the event were most beneficial, attendees indicated that it was the information sharing and networking opportunities, and the experience of presenting their work:
- Fantastic to hear what others are doing - not feel as isolated doing research.
- Great to get the experience of presenting under my belt.
- Excellent network. PHCRED is a great opportunity for sharing and building connections.
- Attendees who had not presented before appreciated the supportive environment provided:
- Paul was very supportive and took the time to calm me down.
- People who listened were polite. I liked the way the speaker told everyone to be supportive of us first timers.
The program and presentations are available from the PHCRED Tri State-wide Collaboration web-site:
Web: www.phcredtristate.org.au/
PHC RIS staff attended this event - see their report on p15.
SPENCER GULF RURAL HEALTH SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Sonia Champion
PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 08-8647-8112
E: sonia.champion@unisa.edu.au
Here are profiles of three of our bursary holders:
Deb Fernando, Research Assistant
I have been granted a bursary from the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School to do research in my local area. The research is about Improving the wellbeing and livelihood of community members by seeking the views of Aboriginal people living on the Far West Coast, and then developing Businesses within their community in order to increase participation in improvement of their lifestyle.
This is a participatory action research project, using interview surveys, document review and feedback to the Far West Coast Aboriginal Enterprise Network. Questions sought information about community strengths, health status, numbers of people currently in businesses and those who planned to get into businesses.
Claudia Smith, Research Assistant
I have chosen to apply for a Spencer Gulf Rural Health School Bursary funding so that I am able to do more research into cervical screening, an area which affects a lot of women. My aim in this research is to show the huge discrepancies between Indigenous and Non Indigenous womens health. The methods I will use include exploring the internet the ABS, ASSA SACS over the last ten years, and information from Aboriginal health services in South Australia
Kuda Muyambi, Project Worker
Following the award of the SGRHS grant, I decided that before undertaking any research work I would develop my capacity in the area. So in July 2006 I enrolled on the Graduate Certificate in Research Methodologies course offered by the University of South Australia. The program consists of four courses.
Presently, I am doing three courses, Research Proposal, Literature Review and Perspectives in Health Research. It is hard but surmountable work. It is knowing the latter that is making the hard work enjoyable. My long term ambition is to join the growing band of qualitative researchers. It therefore follows that qualitative research will be the fourth course that I intend to do to complete the study program. At this stage I would say I am on course to realising my objective.
DEPT OF GENERAL PRACTICE
UNIVERSITY OF WA
Caroline Bulsara
Lecturer
Ph: 08 9449 5166
E: cbulsara@meddent.uwa.edu.au
Linking in with divisions of general practice and academia
A Chronic Disease Management (CDM) project which commenced this year has provided a successful merge of research capacity building between Fremantle GP Network and PHCRED at the University of Western Australia (UWA). The Project began as an exploratory investigation into the issues raised by GPs, Practice Nurses and divisional staff, regarding the new Healthy @ Home Chronic Disease Management Program initiated by the Department of Health WA.
Fremantle GP Network under the leadership of Libby Foster and Malena Della Bona along with Caroline Bulsara of PHCRED at UWA provided the impetus to investigate the issues for stakeholders in successfully implementing the program and the effect that this may have on the workload of GPs and practice nurses.
Under guidance regarding research methodologies from UWA a series of focus groups were conducted and a report generated. Further to this, Fremantle GP Network Division team were encouraged by PHCRED (UWA) to apply for a small research bursary which would provide funding to explore the impact of the first months since the CDM program inception. The Project has also involved Gae Sawyer, Fremantle GP Network Practice Support Project Officer, and Dr Lesley Ramage, as an RACGP bursary holder, to develop research skills through involvement in a project of this type. In addition to this, a practice nurse, Luci Wright, has been involved in the project research process through developing focus group questions, analysing themes and report writing. Significantly, the Project has had the involvement of Ms Simone Karner, a research officer at PHCRED (UWA) to assist and guide the research process. Currently we are entering Phase II with funding received from a PHCRED bursary and WA General Practice Network Nursing in General Practice program.
The end result will build research capacity across a number of areas. Namely, a general practitioner, practice nurse, Fremantle GP Network staff and an early career researcher at PHCRED (UWA). Ultimately, the Project has successfully generated a sense of team work and understanding amongst primary health care practitioners and research/academic staff at the university in a successful partnership.
Please note: Caroline Bulsara should also have been credited as co-author of the Department of General Practice, University of Western Australia's RCBI update in the October issue of PHC RIS infonet.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
 UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
A/Prof Tom Brett
Director, Notre Dame PHCRED
Ph: 08 9433 0258
E: tbrett@nd.edu.au
Notre Dame is currently completing its first year of funding under the PHCRED strategy. As part of a deliberate policy of directing support in a 'bottom-up' approach to stimulate and develop research interest among primary health care professionals, Notre Dame offered a larger number of smaller fellowships to help generate research interest in the earlier stages of the researcher development pathway during 2006.
Research fellows
- Dr Alan Wright Dr Frank Jones
- Dr Andrew Marangou
- Dr Walter Kaczmarczyk
Researcher Development Program (RDP) Fellowships
- Dr William Walker Dr Michael Eaton
- Ms Julie Young Ms Noelene Mora
- Ms Wendy Manea-Walley
Student research support
Ari Kantzides - was offered a research bursary for his contribution to study into career choices of first and second year graduate-entry medical students at Notre Dame.
Some 1st and 2nd year medical students attended our monthly meetings and this research interest will be supported and mentored by PHCRED in future years.
Current projects
- (i) Fremantle Primary Prevention study into risk factor modification for cardiovascular disease
- (ii) Chlamydia Screening Study
- (iii) Knowledge and Attitudes to prostate cancer in general practice study
- (iv) Career choice aspirations of graduate-entry Year 1 and 2 medical students at Notre Dame
Health Essay Prize (Kimberley Indigenous students)
As part of its 2006 program, Notre Dame PHCRED offered an annual prize of $500 to a Year 10 or Year 11 Indigenous Student for a health related essay based on their experiences from their own community.
Kimberley research initiative
Notre Dame PHCRED is currently supporting a collaborative venture with other schools on campus and the Broome campus to develop a sustainable research project for the Kimberley region. It is hoped that this project will be progressed significantly in 2007.
 RURAL HEALTH RESEARCH UNIT
JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY
Robyn Preston
PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 07 4796 3383
E: phcred@jcu.edu.au
On 4 October all James Cook University (JCU) PHCRED Fellows gave short presentations on their projects; providing an opportunity for Fellows from Cairns and Townsville to meet and receive feedback on their research from PHC academics.
Sally O'Brien, a psychologist with North West Queensland Primary Health Care (NWQPHC) presented her findings to date on Smoking Cessation Programs for Cardiac Patients: Current practice and future potentials in regional and remote North Queensland . She concluded that there is a need for further research to scope existing networks and to empirically evaluate a combined tertiary-primary health care approach for smoking cessation in the cardiac patient.
Also from NWQPHC, podiatrist Ruth Connors presented The Indigenous Diabetic Foot Health Workshop for Aboriginal Health Workers. What works. What doesn't? Ruth's research aims to determine whether the Indigenous Diabetic Foot (IDF) program is an effective method of teaching Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW's) how to screen diabetic clients for foot problems and referral onto other health professionals.
Jane Mills has been working with GPCairns to systematically develop a model of best practice for the introduction and maintenance of cervical screening services provided by RNs in general practice settings (NiGP). Five nurses in general practice who are qualified as cervical screeners have participated in this study through reflective group meetings, a locked research group website and creative journaling. Preliminary findings have found that facilitative general practices promote client choice and referral patterns for cervical screening are different from other NiGP MBBS procedures.
Ross Blackman presented This is What Happened: A narrative analysis of what was happening immediately prior to and during road crashes. His research is one element of the Rural and Remote Road Safety Study which has the overall goal to reduce the incidence and related economic, medical and social costs of vehicle crashes in rural and remote Queensland. He is analysing over 300 narratives gathered from bedside surveys with road crash patients.
Improving access for skin cancer care in remote Far North Queensland: Evaluation of a pilot program conducted by the Royal Flying Doctor Service was presented by Dr Mel Scrace a Medical Officer with the RFDS, based in Cairns. The skin cancer care program has been implemented with a high risk population of approximately 1200 in North West QLD. It involves six monthly skin cancer screening days, health education and the use of new technology (SIAscope).
Showcasing PHCRED research from SA, NT & GGT
PHCRED STATEWIDE COLLABORATION ANNUAL EVENT
21 September, Adelaide
Attended by Ellen McIntyre (presenter), Sarah Eckermann, Libby Kalucy,
PHC RIS
Over 50 delegates from as far as Alice Springs, Canberra and even Scotland listened to presentations delivered by researchers funded through the PHCRED program. The range of research presented at this Forum by diverse presenters demonstrated how vibrant, exciting, relevant and useful research can be when it involves those who stand to benefit from it.
Robert Wells, Director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy at ANU, in his presentation on Making the evidence fit the policy spoke of 'policy moments' - those opportunities where the right evidence is provided for the right problem at the right time to produce the right policy.
John Wakerman, Director of Centre for Rural and Remote Health, and chair of the National Rural Health Alliance spoke about linking policy and research, and had these messages for researchers:
- Have a dissemination plan.
- Use scholarly journals and trade journals, general media, face to face meetings, to amplify your messages to other groups.
- Anecdote based on fact is more powerful than the fact. 'Don't wipe away the tears' - allow the message to have real impact.
Ricky Mentha, an Indigenous health worker, footballer and father of three, described how the Responsible Alcohol Strategy implemented at football games in Alice Springs has resulted in a decrease in the number of alcohol related incidents and improved crowd behaviour.
Sonia Champion, Spencer Gulf University Department of Rural Health, described in words and through her vivid and beautiful paintings her needs assessment about the Nunyara community wellbeing centre, which revealed some community characteristics such as the segregation between different indigenous groups which is both a strength and a weakness. Deb Fernando, Ceduna - Desert Knowledge CRC, Plants for People SA, reported on the progress of her project designed to increase the well-being of people on the Far West Coast by developing businesses within their community.
In the final session, four researchers presented fascinating work - Tania Pittman from Spencer Gulf Rural Health School on sustainable interventions to address metabolic syndrome, Joanne Dollard and Jo Nolan from the University of Adelaide on different aspects of falls prevention, and Miriam Keane from Flinders University on analysis of qualitative performance indicators.
See also PHCRED Tri Statewide annual event evaluation on p12.
|
print version
email this page
