RURAL HEALTH RESEARCH UNIT
JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY
Robyn Preston, on behalf of the GP & PHC Breakfast Session
PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 07 4796 3383
E: robyn.preston@jcu.edu.au
GP & PHC Breakfast Session: Innovative approaches to Research Capacity Building
This breakfast session brought together over 20 PHCRED Coordinators and others involved in the research capacity building initiative (RCBI) of the PHCRED Strategy. Throughout Phase I of this Strategy, PHCRED programs conducted numerous research workshops and developed a vast amount of training resources. In Phase II, PHCRED coordinators are now supporting researchers with varying levels of abilities from novices to PhD students. In response to these issues, PHCRED programs have developed innovative approaches to research training.
Invited PHCRED programs showcased their RCBI approaches and available materials for education and training, including:
- on-line modules (Robyn Preston, James Cook University)
- resource links to available online resources; (Libby Holden, Griffith University)
- the Desert CRC Online Research Modules (Judy Taylor, Spencer Gulf Centre for Rural Heath)
- an in-house Writing Retreat (Rachel Boak, The Greater Green Triangle) ( PHC RIS infonet, Feb 07).
The majority of discussion centred on access to, and use of, available online resources to support RCB. This perhaps reflected the number of session participants who were from recently funded programs and the need to share resources across all PHCRED programs.
Additional issues included the availability of non-web based materials developed by other PHCRED programs, how to find out about these resources and issues of Intellectual Property. Final summing up centred on the need for a dedicated session for PHCRED Coordinators during GP & PHC Research Conferences to enable discussion and sharing of existing education and training resources and updates on the use and application of these.
The PHC RIS website and publications such as PHC RIS infonet provide great forums for PHCRED programs to share RCBI approaches. If you have a particular strategy for disseminating research training materials, we'd love to hear about it, so why not share it through PHC RIS infonet or the PHCRED Resources page on the PHC RIS website <www.phcris.org.au/phcred/resources.php>.
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES & MEDICINE
BOND UNIVERSITY
Treasure Hodgetts
PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 07 5595 4417
E: thodgett@bond.edu.au
Research Profiles at Bond University
Assistant Professor Neil Smart leads the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) unit, supervising mid-career and novice researchers. Neil's special interest is exercise therapy for managing chronic disease, especially heart failure and diabetes. Neil is also providing heart failure exercise training advice to several Australian hospitals. He is currently writing a “How to” guide for implementing exercise training programs for heart failure patients, and also teaches on the Medical and Health Science courses.
Our 2007 primary healthcare research fellows are:
- Maree Crepinsek has registered for a research higher degree and is completing a Cochrane systematic review entitled Treatments for preventing mastitis after childbirth as well as designing a randomized, controlled trial of strategies used by post-natal women to treat mastitis.
- Howard Talbot is working on a Cochrane systematic review Hyaluronate for Skin Wound healing.
- Howard and Neil Smart have submitted a NHMRC grant application for a study of Glucosamine supplementation in patients with type II diabetes and knee osteoarthritis .
- Dr Kavita Kasana and Neil Smart have submitted an NHMRC project grant application for the study Predictors of a sustained response to exercise training in patients with type II diabetes: a tele-monitoring study . This work has received pilot funding from Bond University and NovoNordisk.
- GP, Lisa Beecham has submitted an NHMRC project grant application for the study Trial of a hand held record for the management of coronary heart disease and diabetes .
- Pharmacist Gagan Johar is working on a research design for a project examining the effectiveness of pharmacist SMS messaging reminders for patients needing to refill prescriptions.
- Psychologist Sallie Gardner is working on a systematic review Computer assisted self-help materials for the treatment of depression and designing a trial measuring stress, depression and anxiety levels in medical students.
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL PRACTICE
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
Leigh Roeger
PHCRED Coordinator
E: leigh.roeger@flinders.edu.au
This year the PHCRED program welcomes two new Research Development Program (RDP) Fellows to the department. They are Jodie Hillen and Michelle Carr-Swift. Both are making excellent progress in their projects. More about Jodie next time but for this update we'll focus on Michelle's project.
Michelle is a Speech Pathologist who has worked in a variety of rural primary health care (PHC) settings. A significant proportion of children referred to Michelle for speech difficulties were also experiencing behavioural problems. Like many primary health care workers she appreciated all too well that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) around the country have very long waiting lists and that these children would be unlikely to receive effective, evidence based treatment in a timely fashion. So what could be done?
Together with staff from the Southern CAMHS at Flinders Medical Centre, Michelle is conducting a randomised controlled trial of a parent self-administered Your Defiant Child program with telephone support from a Primary Health Care professional. The Defiant Child program comprises a structured curriculum based on social-learning theory, parent-child relationship enhancing strategies and effective discipline strategies.
Approximately 50 parents with children experiencing challenging behaviours who currently languish on a rural Southern CAMHS waiting list will be recruited to take part in the study. To date ethics approval for the study has been obtained and parent recruitment is getting underway. If the program is found to be effective the research will have significant implications for the way that treatment can be delivered to children with challenging behaviours in PHC settings.
First the research will demonstrate a simple cost effective approach to improve throughput in CAMHS – and hopefully reduce waiting times.
Secondly a structured program will be available to PHC professionals to make sure the information they give to parents for child behavioural problems is evidence-based. A real strength of Michelle's research is the close collaboration made between academic researchers and industry partners and the high impact the research may have on practice.
Michelle Carr Swift
RDP Fellow
E: michelle.carr@flinders.edu.au
PHCRED (SA / NT / GGT)
University of SA
Paul Aylward
Tri State-wide Coordinator
Ph: 08 8303 3454
E: paul.aylward@adelaide.edu.au
Short course on research
The PHCRED Tri State-wide Collaboration identified the need for a coordinated approach to evaluation and research training amongst RDPs and Bursary holders supported by PHCRED across the partnership (SA/NT and Greater Green Triangle (GGT)). A two-day short course for supported researchers was delivered by ten presenters across the collaboration in April. The PHCRED Coordinators also attended with two delivering training sessions. The Tri State-wide Coordinator delivered two sessions, and other sessions were conducted by Karen Grimmer-Summers (‘Centre for Allied Health Evidence') and Libby Kalucy (PHC RIS).
The sessions were video linked to the GGT to facilitate participation by their supported researchers and the delivery of a session from their PHCRED Coordinator. The following areas were addressed:
- What is Primary Health Care Research?
- Planning your Research and Establishing the Research Question
- Introduction to Quantitative and Survey Methods
- Introduction to Quantitative Data Analysis
- Introduction to Qualitative Research
- Applying Focus Groups
- Ethics, Informed Consent and Privacy
- Introduction to Evaluation
- Writing a Research Proposal
Attendees found the spread of sessions to be highly beneficial. Respondent were unanimous that the sessions were ‘useful for my research', ‘very informative', had excellent presenters, and were very enjoyable. Ninety percent said they would share the information given to them in the session with their colleagues and that the session had encouraged them to learn more about evaluation/research.
Clearly the short course was highly appreciated and worthwhile. The course impacted on attendees' knowledge and skills and this learning was well valued. The course also provided an opportunity for the PHCRED partners to bring together a synergy of skills. This was the first time this course has been run; whilst there were some teething problems with the video link, this was shown to be a feasible means of integrating capacity building across the partnership.
An evaluation report appears on the PHCRED Collaboration website:
Web: www.phcredtristate.org.au/
PHCRED WESTERN AUSTRALIA
GENERAL PRACTICE, UWA
Tracy Reibel
Statewide Coordinator
Ph: 08 9449 5131
E: tracy.reibel@uwa.edu.au
Consumer representation in research is not a new idea, but WA has established the first consumer group specifically concerned with primary health care research.
The PHCRED WA Consumer Advisory Group was formed to begin the process of building stronger relationships between consumers and PHC researchers.
Its initial aim is to act in an advisory capacity to early-mid career researchers, assisting them to develop effective ways to interact with consumers on a variety of levels.
Consumer involvement is relevant to all stages of primary health care research including identifying local needs; interacting and facilitating workshops with local communities and research participants; as members of management and steering committees; participating in data management and evaluation of research; and selection of projects for funding for research.
Importantly the Consumer Advisory Group has developed guidelines to perform three functions:
- to articulate the reasons for the consumer participation
- to provide advice to researchers on preparation of a research proposal
- to provide a checklist for consumer reviewers to use when undertaking a review or for researchers to use as a self-assessment tool when developing their research project.
The guidelines are the result of a review of existing literature. The aim is to assist Consumer Advisory Group members to effectively review research proposals within a framework that enables a degree of consistency across multiple reviewers.
The WA Consumer Advisory Group comprises five core members with an interest in research as it relates to consumers and specifically primary health care.
They bring to the group a diversity of experience and expertise and are well positioned to add value to primary health care research.
Details relating to the PHCRED WA Consumer Advisory Group are available on the PHCRED WA website <www.phcredwa.org.au/go/consumer-advisory-group>, together with the Guidelines for Review of Research Projects.
Comments and feedback are welcomed.
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL PRACTICE
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Melinda Soós &
Practice-Based Research Network Coordinator
& Verity Newnham
Practice Nurse
Ph: 03 8344 3392
E: msoos@unimelb.edu.au
PHCRED Fellowships: Building Practice Nurse Research Capacity
In June 2007, four Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) Strategy practice nurse fellows concluded their 18-month long fellowship with the University of Melbourne's Primary Care Research Unit (PCRU) within the Department of General Practice. The fellowships promoted specialist nursing expertise in adolescent health and chronic disease management projects and developed the research capacity of primary health care nurses.
Through structured seminars, networks, academic mentoring and exposure to the research environment, the nurses Judy Evans, Christine Matheson, Verity Newnham and Lynne Walker acquired research skills by developing their individual projects nested in larger established PCRU studies. Learning components included the generation of research questions, literature searching and reviewing, formulation of research methods and protocol, statistical and qualitative evaluation of results, their presentation at conferences, and preparation for publication.
The fellows have developed networks with like-minded practice nurses and the wider academic, clinical and research communities. Their research knowledge has been significantly translated: Judy Evans and Lynne Walker have championed the establishment of a research committee supported by the Australian Practice Nurses Association and Christine Matheson and Verity Newnham are now employed in on-going PCRU research projects. Verity has since commenced her Masters degree.
The fellows evaluated their experience and presented their results at this year's GP & PHC Research Conference in Sydney. The fellowship enabled them to contribute to the evidence-base of nursing and to reflect on their profession. “The fellowship was a very positive experience in terms of exposure to the research environment and in developing research skills. Being supported to develop and research your own project was very rewarding and I would encourage other practice nurses to consider applying,” said Verity Newnham.
The University of Melbourne is proud of the fellows' achievements and supports their recommendation of funding for future PHCRED practice nurse fellowships.
UDRH NORTHERN NSW
UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE
Rod Cooper
PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 02 6767 8465
E: rodney.cooper@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Researcher Development Program (RDP)
 Luke Wakely, paediatric physiotherapist with Tamworth Community Health Service, Hunter New England Health (HNEH), is interested in early intervention for premature infants. Luke is currently engaged in a qualitative research project investigating the experiences of rural parents who have had a premature infant, after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit.
Luke intends to interview parents of premature infants from the Tamworth area about their experiences of having a premature child while living in a rural area. Particular themes that will be investigated include: the effect on relationships, coping strategies, perceptions of how information is presented about their infant, perceptions of the roles of the clinicians involved in caring for a premature infant, parent understanding of the development of a premature infant and issues associated with caring for a premature infant in a rural area.
 Melanie Press, a Primary Health Care Nurse (HNEH) based in Warialda, NSW, is currently studying for her Masters in Nursing. Melanie has a particular interest in health education delivery in small remote rural communities. Melanie is evaluating her health education project called 'Yetman Health Awareness Program' through the Researcher Development Program.
The aim of the program is to provide Yetman community members with the opportunity to improve their holistic health through education opportunities with an emphasis placed on areas of need and interest collectively identified by members. As part of this evaluation Melanie has collected qualitative data through participant questionnaires and a focus group. The results will be used to inform the education program development for delivery in other small isolated rural communities.
DISCIPLINE OF GENERAL PRACTICE
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Dr Raechelle Rubinstein
PHCRED Coordinator
Ph: 02 9556 7200
E: raechelle@gp.med.usyd.edu.au
Youth Health Research Interest Group
The Youth Health Research Interest Group (YHRIG) is a research network that the Discipline of General Practice supports as part of its research capacity building initiative (RCBI) program. Established in 2002 by a handful of researchers with an interest in and commitment to improving adolescent health, it now has a national membership that, due to distance, meets by teleconference. Under the facilitation of Dr Carolyn Kefford, the group provides a forum for academic exchange and mentoring.
At the recent GP & PHC Research Conference, YHRIG hosted a well attended, successful Breakfast Session. Titled Where and how can we conduct youth health research more effectively? , it examined some of the settings in which youth health research is conducted and considered the facilitators and barriers to researching youth health as well as the ethical issues involved.
Dr Melissa Kang (University of Sydney) facilitated the session. Dr Lena Sanci (University of Melbourne) discussed youth health research in general practice settings, Dr Rob Trigger (North Coast Regional Training Program for General Practitioners) considered youth health in schools, while Dr Claudio Villelo (a GP in the Victorian juvenile justice system) spoke about youth health research conducted in the juvenile justice system.
The attendance of two young people from the NSW Commission for Children and Young People, Claire Power and Emma Kenworthy, representing young people, was an important feature of the Breakfast Session.
In addition to sharing an interest in youth health research, many YHRIG members actively promote youth health in their own communities. The GPs in Schools program is an example. Commenced by Dr Kefford and colleagues in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Division of General Practice, the program provides discussion groups in local high schools that assist young people to understand and access primary health care.
UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF RURAL HEALTH, BROKEN HILL
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Frances Boreland
Research Officer
PHC RED Program
Ph: 08 8080 1279
E: fboreland@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Growing on strong foundations
Growing on strong foundations is the theme for the RCBI program at the University Department of Rural Health, Broken Hill in 2007. To build on previous gains the Department is continuing to focus primarily on enhancing the skills of existing early career researchers, with a two-level program to build support at local and state levels.
At the local level, a support group for existing and potential PhD students has been established to help overcome the isolation which can be a major barrier to completion of higher degrees in rural and remote areas.
There are currently two students undertaking PhDs and five considering doing so. The group facilitates peer support and access to information.
To date four meetings have been held, with participants finding the information exchange useful.
At the State level the Department is actively involved with NSW PHCRED activities to support developing researchers, including teaching at two state-wide intensive research skills courses and follow-up project development retreats.
More broadly, the Department is also working with the Australian Rural Health Research Collaboration (of which it is a member) to support students doing research higher degrees relevant to rural health.
PHCRED TASMANIA
UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
Julie Forsyth
Statewide Coordinator,
Ph: 03 6226 4803
E: Julie.Forsyth@utas.edu.au
Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services - $3,000 Bursary for Primary Health Care Research
 In June 2006, Professor Mark Nelson, Head, Discipline of General Practice, and Associate Professor Sue Kilpatrick, Director, UDRH, as joint Directors of the Primary Health Care Research, Education and Development (PHCRED) Research Capacity Building Initiative (RCBI) at UTAS approached Dr Martyn Forrest, then Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) regarding the possibility of DHHS funding a research bursary aimed at aiding allied health/primary care practitioners employed within DHHS interested in furthering their research in the field of primary health care.
The PHCRED team at UTAS thought that this would also be an excellent opportunity for shared research capacity building between the state Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Tasmania. After consultation, the Department readily agreed to provide assistance with this project and in April 2007 the DHHS $3,000 Bursary for Primary Health Care Research was advertised via both DHHS and University websites.
Following consideration of the applications received, the bursary was awarded to Ms Jane Symons, an Occupational Therapist at the Repat Centre, DHHS (and her research team) for their project: Art as therapy: Enhancing outcomes in community rehabilitation. On 17 May 2007, as part of winning this bursary, Ms Symons was presented with a certificate by Ms Elizabeth Shannon (representing Ms Mary Bent, Deputy Secretary, DHHS) at a small ceremony held in the Board Room at the UTAS Clinical School, Hobart.
We are hopeful that further bursaries may be funded by DHHS as the Department's contribution in funding this bursary greatly assists both in research capacity building and in encouraging allied/primary health care
|
