 Bridging research and policy
Incentives and Methods for Success
Health Policy and Research Exchange, SAX Institute
November 18-19, 2008
Attended by Ellen McIntyre, PHC RIS
The SAX Institute, focusing on increasing the use of research in policy making, are to be congratulated for a well planned and engaging workshop and exchange day in Sydney last month.
Both policy makers and researchers were entertained by succinct presentations from leaders in research and policy that stimulated robust discussions around promoting and encouraging exchange between researchers and policy makers and developing innovative ways to facilitate evidence informed policy.
Keynote speaker Professor Geoffrey, former director of the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex and internationally recognised as a pioneer in knowledge brokering, stated the importance of understanding the knowledge needs of the policy makers and how they can be met. The timeliness of input into policy making, whether it be one day, three weeks or longer, needs to be acknowledged along with the appreciation of what is possible in that period. Policy makers require credible information packaged appropriately and specific to their requirements. As well as knowledge about how to solve their issue, they also need knowledge about how this was managed in other organisations and countries and the views of stakeholders to the advice provided (the political considerations).
Key issues that emerged both in the presentations and the ensuing discussion included the:
- importance of developing and maintaining good relationships between researchers and policy makers so that policy makers know who to contact when they need evidence and researchers are more aware of what evidence policy makers need
- need for researchers to be more strategic and innovative in getting the right research packaged in a suitable manner for policy
- need for research organisation to acknowledge the importance of translational and implementation research
- timeliness of providing this information, taking into account the government budget cycle, receptivity of the information, and how the information will fit with the current political environment.
A report of this event is available at <www.saxinstitute.org.au>
 Blasting away health silos
General Practice SA Network Conference
18-19 September 2008, Adelaide
Attended by Sara Howard & Simon Patterson, PHC RIS
This annual conference, held by the newly named, General Practice SA Network (formerly known as SADI), addressed three broad areas: health reform; data and IM/IT; and Indigenous health.
The conference both started and ended with a focus on health care reform. This is not surprising given the extent of health strategies and reviews that have been initiated by the Australian Government over the last 12 months (eg. National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, Primary Health Care Strategy, Preventative Health Taskforce).
Presenters included Professor Justin Beilby (Hospitals Reform Commission), Dr Tony Hobbs (AGPN) and Ms Megan Morris (Department of Health & Ageing), all of whom emphasised the need for primary health care to be accountable, not only to their funding bodies and the public, but also to the other health professionals that are providing care as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Quality data and sound IM/IT skills are critical to demonstrating accountability and continuous quality improvement in general practice. The need for robust and reliable interoperability (where clinical computer systems talk to each other so that information can be shared) was highlighted by Mr John Johnston (Pen Computing Systems) and Professor Richard Reed (Flinders University) showed how data can be used to inform policy.
PHC RIS also presented Out of the black hole (available at www.phcris.org.au), exploring how Divisions can use their own accurate data to improve performance.
A number of presentations focused on improving the health of Indigenous Australians (eg. tobacco use, maternity care). The views expressed by Ms Dana Shen (SA Health) were of particular salience because she reminded the audience that even though Indigenous Australians are a minority group, there is considerable cultural variation among them (ie. language, time since colonisation and consequently what aspects of their culture have been lost) and this needs to be taken into consideration when providing health care and in health promotion.
|
