PHC research - a means to an end not an end in itself

Primary Health Care Research Showcase

6 March 2008, Brisbane
Attended by Libby Kalucy, PHC RIS

In this statement Phillip Davies, Deputy Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Queensland, summed up the need for those who produce and those who use primary health care research to talk to each other. Queensland PHCRED got people from different sectors talking to each other by showcasing its research in a successful innovative event in Brisbane on 6 March. The diverse audience heard excellent punchy talks from senior politicians and public servants, who displayed a high level of insight into the current problems of the health system in general and primary health care in particular. Leading primary health care researchers outlined current research in relation to chronic disease management and workforce issues, two of the issues which contribute to the overwhelming demand on the hospital system that keeps the Minister for Health in Queensland, Stephen Robertson, awake at night.

The policy makers identified many pressing issues which could benefit from relevant research, such as:

• Raising the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Developing meaningful performance measures to provide insight into the quality and effectiveness of primary care services
• Understanding better the business and organisation of primary health care
• Implementing what is already known, eg. many studies show the major impacts of chronic disease self management. How can this be implemented systematically to reach all those who need to self manage?
• Reforming the health workforce to provide safe quality care while better utilising health professionals.

The event showed how the PHCRED Strategy has contributed to a vibrant research community, producing a rich evidence base through a collaborative approach to research with Queensland Health, general practice networks and the specialist sector to address local questions.

For more information see <http://www.uq.edu.au/phcredqld>.

Libby Kalucy
Director
E: libby.kalucy@flinders.edu.au