Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health
The priority activity for the Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health (NRUDRH) PHCRED Research Capacity Building Initiative (RCBI) in 2005 centred around developing new research potential in the Northern Rivers region.
Forty-five local primary care clinicians were assisted with advice and support for research projects. On evaluation, 81% of participants indicated that they felt their research capacity had been enhanced through the experience.
The top three categories of assistance provided, with percentage of total time devoted to each, were:
- Analysing and interpreting results 29%
- Data support 20%
- Applying for research funding 11%
A total of 305 people attended at least one of the 20 research seminars held during the year. The seminars were held at NRUDRH Lismore and video-conferenced to the NRUDRH sites at Grafton and Murwillumbah and to the UDRHs at Moree and Broken Hill.
Topics included:
- Calculating Bed Occupancy during an Outbreak of Infectious Disease
- Evaluation of an Indigenous Health Promotion Initiative
- Indigenous Palliative Care
- Reflective Practice in Nursing.
Two workshops were developed and presented - Writing for Publication and Questionnaire design . Research Support Officers also held two sessions on critical appraisal for a total of 27 attendees.
Papers by the RCBI team included:
- Darlow, B.A., Hutchinson, J.L., Simpson, J.M., Henderson-Smart, D.J., Donoghue, D.A., Evans, N.J. Variation in rates of severe retinopathy of prematurity among Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network, British Journal of Ophthalmology in press.
- Barnett, L., Holden, L., Donoghue, D., Passey, M., Birden, H. (2005). What's Needed to Increase Research Capacity in Rural Primary Health Care? Australian Journal of Primary Health, 11(3); 45-53.
- Hermeston, W. (2005). Telling you our story: how apology and action relate to health and social problems in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities Medical Journal of Australia , 183(9): 479-81.
For further information contact:
Hudson Birden
PHCRED Program Coordinator/
Senior Lecturer in Public health
Ph: 02 6620 7603
E: hudsonb@med.usyd.edu.au
Capacity in Research and Evaluation Program
Discipline of General Practice, University of Newcastle
From idea to fruition was the theme of the 5 th Annual Regional CAPRE PHC Research and Evaluation in Practice Conference held on 3 December 2005 at the IDC, Newcastle . The conference theme focused on an examination of the ways in which research questions can be translated into research output.
The primary aims of the day were to provide Primary Care practitioners and early career PHC researchers with (1) a local forum to present their research findings, (2) opportunities for networking and collaboration, (3) knowledge about how to develop their research ideas and (4) opportunities to discuss research ideas with more experienced researchers.
The morning session opened with two keynote speeches. The first of these Professor Nick Zwar's (UNSW) address titled From Research question to research project: thoughts on keeping it real provided early career researchers with a thorough understanding of the stages of the research process. This was followed by Professor Mike Hazelton's (UoN) address titled From Idea to fruition: Lessons from two studies addressing the efficacy/effectiveness gap in mental health services research . Professor Hazelton provided some well illustrated examples of challenges associated with mental health research.
Paper presentations provided fruitful discussions on a range of topics such as experiences of interviewing ethnic women, breastfeeding into toddlerhood and beyond, GP workforce issues and nutrition counselling in GP.
A lunch time session of Tai Chi was provided by Ken Pearsall from the Australian Academy of Tai Chi. This served to provide participants with some relaxation prior to embarking upon a stimulating afternoon commencing with concurrent workshops, as well as providing them with a hands on experience of this form of exercise.
A workshop on Making primary care evaluation useful facilitated by Dr Janet Dunbabin (NSWRDN) and Ms Susan Goode (UoN) focused on the techniques that can be implemented to ensure that evaluation results are useful. Issues in primary care research ethics facilitated by Prof Nick Zwar included a discussion of the ethical principles that need to be considered in human research. The application of these principles to the primary care setting was explored through several research scenarios.
The conference concluded with a research paper presentation by Dr Helen Tolhurst (PhD Candidate) on her conceptual framework for understanding and developing models of sustainable rural GP. As in past years, the conference was well received and similar events are planned for the future.
For further information contact:
Ms Susan Goode
Program Coordinator
Ph: 02 4968 6737
E: susan.goode@newcastle.edu.au
Flinders PHCRED / SARNet
Department of General Practice, Flinders University
 SARNet SUPPORTS EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS' POSTER PRESENTATIONS
The South Australian Research Network for Primary Health Care (SARNet) supported 20 nursing students in the dissemination of their research findings through a SARNet Bursary. Students undertaking a research project were mentored by senior staff at the School of Nursing & Midwifery at Flinders University , and were encouraged to present their findings as posters.
SARNet awarded part of the funding for the poster production, and provided a workshop on Creating posters in power point , presented by Dr Karin Ried in October 2005, who was also part of the judging panel for the best poster prize. The Collaboration between the School of Nursing and Midwifery and SARNet/ PHCRED at Flinders University was initiated in 2004. The creativity and quality of the colourful posters produced in 2005 was very impressive.
Posters, photos of the presentation night on 30 November 2005 , and more information on the Mentoring Nurse Leaders Project are available on the SARNet website:
http://som.flinders.edu.au/FUSA/GP-Evidence/SARNet/bursaryShowcase.htm#nursePosters05
For further information contact:
Dr Karin Ried
SARNet/ PHCRED Program Manager
E: karin.ried@flinders.edu.au
Web: http://som.flinders.edu.au/SARNet
School of Rural Health, University of Melbourne
 Building research capacity in the School of Rural Health in Shepparton has involved working with health service providers to engage them in research, supporting current researchers increase their output and providing avenues of access to excellence in research.
A series of skills development workshops and research fellowships have provided opportunities for small research projects to be conducted within health organisations and increased the level of awareness within the community as to the research support that is available. This strategy is aimed at increasing the capacity of organisations to conduct their own research and improving the research skills of individuals.
We have supported active researchers through a range of forums to promote an exchange of ideas and methodologies and provide a collegiate academic environment, which has contributed to increasing research capacity. Research fellows, post graduate students and academic staff have all participated in breakfast clubs, journal clubs and specialist seminars and workshops.
Promoting excellence in fields of research resulted in the establishment of a seminar program to invite ‘experts' to the school and also to support researchers with funding to travel and spend time with other researchers in their areas of interest.
Our first research conference which had a theme of Getting quality research and evaluation into our rural communities was the culmination of the strategies outlined above and showcased research conducted through fellowships, post graduate students and within the broader community of health professionals.
In 2006 we shall continue to build on the strategies developed above and extend them into outlying rural areas through the Rural Health Academic Network (RHAN). This will involve placing researchers within health service organisations. An expansion of the fellowship program to include scholarships aimed at research in areas of health priorities at both masters and PhD level will be undertaken.
For further information contact:
Barb Hellwege
Research Administrator
Ph: 03 5823 4511
E: bhe@unimelb.edu.au
Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health
PHCRED ANNUAL RESEARCH MEETING
The 2nd Annual Greater Health Research Meeting was held on 11-12 November 2005 at the Brambuk Cultural Centre, Halls Gap.
 International, national, and local research projects were presented at the 2 nd Annual Greater Health Research Meeting in November last year. It was a key event at which to showcase local opportunities for undertaking research relevant to practice and policy. The event provided an avenue for dialogue between policy advisors, practitioners and other key stakeholders at local and national levels, which provides a basis to inform and maximise the relevance of our local programs.
Professor Erkki Vartiainen, from the National Public Health Institute, Finland , gave the keynote presentation during Friday's Public Health session, on planning interventions based on the results of a local risk factor prevalence study. Dr Sami Heistaro, of Greater Health and the National Public Health Institute, Finland , presented the local risk factor prevalence studies. Clare Vaughan presented the local Food and Move health promotion project.
Friday afternoon, Dr Adrian Schoo, Kevin McNamara, and Cate Mercer presented their Allied Health Workforce Recruitment and Retention Project. The PHCRED Capacity Building Initiative was presented by Rachel Boak, and followed by individual project presentations from PHC RED research bursary holders. Professor John Catford, Dean, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, Deakin University , provided an evening presentation.
Professor J Robert Swenson, University of Ottawa, Canada, gave the keynote presentation during Saturday's Health Services Research session. He summarised the latest research on the efficacy of interpersonal therapy and anti-depressant medication in the treatment of co-morbid depression and coronary heart disease. Associate Professor Simon Eckermann, School of Medicine , Flinders University, gave an overview of using health economics in trial design and grant proposals. Professor James Dunbar and Dr Prasuna Reddy presented an update on progress with two complementary clinical pathway projects in the areas of co-morbid depression, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. Dr Steve Bunker reported on progress with the establishment of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Network of Excellence for the region.
For more information on the Annual Research Showcase please contact:
Ms Rachel Boak
PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 03 5563 3502
E: rachel.boak@greaterhealth.org
PHC RIS report (written by Libby Kalucy) on this conference is available at http://www.phcris.org.au/eventsdiary/conference_report.php
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL PRACTICE, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
A NEW OPPORTUNITY FROM RESNET WA FOR OUR MEMBERS
The Research Bulletin is a new peer-reviewed monthly publication sponsored by the academic discipline of general practice and primary care, University of Western Australia. It is twinned with a similar pamphlet in Yorkshire , UK and is recognised by the National Library of Australia. Locally it is widely circulated and published articles can be cited on other publications, grant applications and curriculum vitae. The Bulletin offers members of ResNet, WA and the North Trent Research Alliance, UK a forum to present research, audits, services and teaching evaluation for the attention of colleagues locally and internationally. We welcome submissions from any general practitioner, nurse, researcher, teacher, manager or student who wishes to share preliminary results, abstracts, research ideas, innovations or to stimulate discussion or debate relevant to patient care.
All publications will be reviewed by members of the editorial board and offered feedback and suggestions for amendments to the script prior to publication. Where appropriate we will endeavour to broker publication in the UK edition of the Bulletin to increase readership for projects that have a generic scientific value or relevance to general practice and primary care. We hope to foster debate, comment and collaboration. We encourage an exchange of ideas and comment.
For further information contact:
Caroline Bulsara
Lecturer
Department of General Practice
University of Western Australia
Ph: 08 9449 5166
E: caroline.bulsara@uwa.edu.au
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