UNSW Research Centre for Primary Health Care & Equity

How can primary health care research best help policy makers and service providers? This was one of the issues discussed at the recent stakeholder forum held by the UNSW Research Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity (CPHCE). Over 80 people from government (state and commonwealth), the Divisions network, community health, non-government organisations and academia attended the forum.

Some of the messages coming out of the forum were:

• Research into policy and practice needs long term partnerships between researchers, practitioners and policy makers. This is difficult where there is short term research funding and rapid staff turnover.
• Policy makers often need broad, evidence based guidance rather than specific research results. Rapid appraisals and research summaries for topical issues can provide this and include information on impact, efficacy, equity and cost effectiveness.
• Action research is a good model for how to involve policy makers in determining research questions and carrying out research
• Local commentary is essential for interpreting lessons from different health systems and seeing how overseas research applies to Australian conditions.
• NGOs and other advocacy organisations have an important role in taking research results and lobbying for them to be implemented.
• Primary health care research should lead the way by doing ‘whole of system' research rather than focusing on specific health sectors.
• Although researchers may feel they are being too demanding, services and service providers feel they get significant benefits from being part of research. Secondments to research units are particularly valuable.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the day was the agreement between the different stakeholders about what is needed, and their belief that we are at least on the road to achieving it.

Gawaine Powell Davies
CEO, UNSW Research Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity
E: g.powell-davies@unsw.edu.au