> Resources and Publications > PHC RIS infonet > February 2009 > PHCRED supported PBRNs

PHCRED supported PBRNs

Several PBRNs have been established with support from the PHCRED Strategy. Here is a short description of these PBRNs as mentioned in the 2007 RCBI annual reports supplemented with information from relevant websites and PBRN coordinators.

PractNet

Based at ANU, PractNet incorporates 10 general practices. Activities include regular meetings and ongoing recruitment. PractNet has completed two projects:

• Data Interrogation – comparing practice population data for various illnesses against population averages
• Antibiotic resistance in General Practice.

Further information is available from Research Manager, Stephanie Louise at:
P: 02 6244 4956
E: stephanie.louise@anu.edu.au
W: http://medicalschool.anu.edu.au/sgprih/?IntCatId=34&IntContId=7592&IntContContId=7552

NQ PBRN

The North Queensland Practice Based Research Network (NQPBRN) includes general practices in Townsville, Cairns and Mackay. Members include GPs and Practice Nurses with a common interest in answering questions through developing practice-based research and gathering data. The Network main interests are skin cancer, sexual health and enhanced primary health care.

Current research network projects include:

• The use and value of health assessments in preventive health care in General Practices in North Queensland
• Consumer's Chlamydia Screening preferences in General Practice

Completed projects include:

• Acute Otitis Externa (AOE): Incidence, prevalence and management in primary care settings in north Queensland. With General Practitioners in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay
• Topical Chloramphenicol study: With General Practitioners in Mackay

Further information is available from Robyn Preston, PHCRED-JCU Coordinator at:
P: 07 4781 6232
E: phcred@jcu.edu.au
W: www.jcu.edu.au/medicine/research/research_groups/JCUDEV_010839.html

VicReN

The Victorian Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network (VicReN) based at the University of Melbourne, brings together primary care practitioners (GPs, practice nurses, community and allied heath practitioners) with academic GPs and other researchers in long-term collaborations to conduct research that matters to practitioners and that makes a difference to the delivery of primary care. Current projects include:

• Ageing Care in General Practice Study
• Weave Study - how GPs should care for the emotional well-being of women
• Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes Study
• Health Assessment in General Practice for Children and Young People Entering Out-of-Home Care in Victoria
• Better Outcomes for Obese Children in General Practice: Randomised Controlled Trial of a New Shared-Care Model vs. Usual Care
• ACCESS: General Practices (GPs) Chlamydia Sentinel Surveillance
• HopSCOTCH: Helping Obesity Problem: Shared Care Overweight Trial in Children

Further information is available from Melinda Soós:
P: 03 8344 3392
E: msoos@unimelb.edu.au
W: www.gp.unimelb.edu.au/vicren/

PHReNeT-GP

PHReNet-GP, a PBRN that evolved from the broader PHReNet research network group, aims to facilitate and streamline the participation of GPs in high quality primary health care research projects led by the UNSW Research Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity (CPHCE).

Current projects include:

• A cluster RCT of nurse and general practitioner partnership for care of COPD
• A project to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of case finding of COPD by practice nurses in General Practice
• Absolute risk assessment in general practice – a pilot study to measure impact on prescribing and adherence to guidelines
• Diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea in primary care

Further information is available from Suzan Mehmet, PHReNet-GP Network coordinator:
E: phrenet-gp@unsw.edu.au
W: www.cphce.unsw.edu.au/

NRGP

In 2007, the Departments of General Practice and Rural Health at the University of Newcastle collaborated to establish the Network of Research General Practices (NRGP) in the Hunter, Central Coast and New England regions of NSW. The NRGP includes PHC practitioners (GPs, practice nurses and allied health staff) who are interested in being supported to conduct research and evaluation projects within their own general practice setting.

Current projects include:

• occupational violence amongst non-GP general practice staff
• exercise physiologists' delivery of exercise programs to patients
• perceived effects on other patients of methadone prescribing in general practices
• sequelae for patients when a general practice in an area of need shuts down

Further information is available from Susan Goode:
P: 02 49686737
E: Susan.Goode@newcastle.edu.au
W: www.newcastle.edu.au/school-old/medprac-pop/phcred.html

Greater Green Triangle Research Network

This research network which is predominantly a PBRN, evolved over time from the original Greater Green Triangle CVD Prevention Partnership in 2001. Members of the research network participated in a diabetes prevention program and risk factor studies from 2004-2006, and in the evaluative trial of a collaborative care model for comorbid depression, diabetes and heart disease. This network is now undertaking an RCT with 20 practices examining a complex intervention to manage these three comobidities.

Further information is available from Rachel Boak, PHCRED Coordinator:
P: 03 5563 3502
E: rachel.boak@greaterhealth.org
W: www.greaterhealth.org/research/health-services-research/38/