> Resources and Publications > PHC RIS infonet > October 2007 > Access to research

Access to research: The partnership between universities and Divisions

Despite the fact that research is not a primary function of Divisions, in 2005-06 34% of Divisions (n=40) reported submitting at least one research proposal in a competitive grant process. In fact, more than half these Divisions (n=22) submitted two or more proposals and one metropolitan Victorian Division reported ten submissions. In total, 101 proposals were reported; 52 were successful, 13 were pending at the end of the 2005-06 financial year, 34 were unsuccessful and two did not proceed. Whilst some states submitted more proposals than others (see the figure below), the total number submitted did not appear to be systematically related to the outcome of the proposals.

A quarter of the proposals were for chronic disease management projects examining prevention, self-management or shared care strategies; diabetes related projects comprised 10% of all successful proposals. Research proposals involved as many as eight partners and as few as one. Across all 101 reported projects, 111 partners were reported; 41% of these were from other Divisions and 22% were from universities and associated rural clinics and schools. Monash University was a commonly cited partner.

In 2005-06, Divisions reported engaging with university departments not only for research purposes, but also for planning and evaluation. Outside the Divisions Network (i.e. other Divisions and SBOs), universities were the most commonly used organisations for these purposes. Importantly, out of these organisations, university departments were rated the most useful across these domains – second only to the National Prescribing Service (NPS), although this received less usage (see the Figure 2). Without doubt, universities play an integral role in assisting Divisions to shape and improve primary health care in Australia.

This information is based on that found in:
Hordacre, AL., Howard, S., Moretti, C., Kalucy, E., (2007). Making a difference. Report of the 2005-2006 Annual Survey of Divisions of General Practice (ASD). Adelaide: Primary Health Care Research & Information Service, Department of General Practice, Flinders University, and Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
www.phcris.org.au/products/asd/results/05_06.php

For more information contact:
PHC RIS Assist
E: phcris@flinders.edu.au
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