Volume 15, Issue 4
April 2011 PHC RIS infonet ISSN 1832 620X
Editorial: Who are our primary health care research leaders?
the knowledge base eg. peer In our unique position as PHC Inspirations, collaborations, 2 review publications, books researchers, we have close solutions - all for you at the PHC Research Conference and other publications. But links with both health care their knowledge of the providers and policy makers, RESEARCH ROUNDup - what 3 broader issues around something not seen in many you said about this resource primary health care is also other research sectors. PHC RIS’ Annual Report 2010 3 important. Indeed, many PHC researchers are also health Launch of new research 4 A research leader has a care providers. These features partnership in Melbourne’s passion for research and, facilitate the implementation south east through supervision and of research findings into mentoring, contributes to The Aboriginal and Torres 4 policy and practice; the Strait Islander Health Worker building the research research users. A PHC Project community. This can be a researcher is often identified win-win situation where Round two: Centres of 5 by the research users as a Research Excellence Ellen McIntyre, PHC RIS students are supervised and leader based not just on what taught research skills and Centre of Excellence in 5 A leader is judged by what they know but also on how the research leader builds Research for building quality, they are, what they know they engage with providers their research team. There is governance, performance and and what they do. A leader and policy makers to present magic in being able to share sustainability in primary is a good listener, is research findings to them in a health care knowledge and skills with focused, organised, tailored and targeted manner. early career researchers. ReportWatch: Health 6 available, includes others, A research leader needs to expenditure in Australia and is decisive and Service to the research know how to communicate, confident. A leader is community is something else Primary health and public 6 collaborate with others so trustworthy and sets an a research leader does. health: Not mutually exclusive that they will join the team, example. Whether this is through share ideas and work PHCRED Strategy: Research 7-11 volunteering to serve on So what features would you together to get the research Capacity Building Initiative committees, peer reviewing attribute to a primary health done. Being a PHC research papers, assessing grant WebsiteWatch: Open access 11 care research (PHC) leader? leader is much more than proposals, mentoring websites What criteria do you use to doing research. colleagues etc; service to determine who is a leader in the community is what Who are our PHC research Upcoming events 12 primary health care? grows, strengthens and leaders? An indicator of what a PHC supports the members of the research leader knows would research community. include their contribution to
PHC RIS Assist 1800 025 882 www.phcris.org.au Early bird registration closes 20 May Visit www.phcris.org.au/conference/2011 Newsletter of the Primary Health Care Research & Information Service Inspirations, collaborations, solutions – all for you at the PHC Research Conference Ellen McIntyre, PHC RIS must attend at the final plenary session on Friday afternoon. The PHC Research Conference goes to 3 Hear some of the best Australian Brisbane this year – a great place to be PHC research from researchers in the middle of winter. This event is passionate about what they are shaping up to be an event you simply doing. Whether you are a cannot miss. You will be inspired by researcher or a research user, this what is on offer. There will be is the place to be. opportunities to collaborate with others 4 Networking is widespread at this as we share the research we have done Conference. Connections and and determine what we need to do careers are made here. Among the next. Presenters will provide solutions many social events is the very to many primary health care questions successful PHC RIS poster reception based on the research they have done on the Wednesday late afternoon and will be presenting at the where you can sip and nibble as conference. you view posters and chat. Here are ten top reasons why you need 5 Speed mentoring happens here. 8 Come for the launch of to be at this key annual event in Start at the welcome reception on Snapshot 2011 – stories that Australian PHC research. Tuesday evening by introducing demonstrate how research can yourself to the leaders. They are 1 Our keynote speakers will inspire improve the health of Australians. friendly, keen to grow the you with their achievements and 9 Register early to get the best flights profession and interested in others thoughtful presentations. There will and accommodation. Early bird who are passionate about PHC also be time for some robust registration closes 20 May. Our research. discussions with the speakers draft program is already on-line. 6 Share your stories, ideas and during the plenary sessions. 10 Come to the Conference and stay research with others - our 2 Q&A comes to the Conference. This for the weekend - enjoy the lunchtime topic tables can help with is your chance to ask the big Brisbane sights and sensations with this. Let us know the topic and we questions about primary health friends and colleagues. There is so will set up a table sign so interested care research. The panel has been much to do here. After the floods delegates can join you. carefully selected to answer and cyclone Yasi, Queensland needs 7 Learn more research skills – attend whatever comes their way. This is a you! the skill building workshops throughout the Conference.
Dr Dame Claire Curtis, scriptwriter and co-founder of OUR 2011 CONFERENCE Bertschinger Comic Relief with the words, ‘This is the girl who started it all’. She has KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Claire Bertschinger is the also worked in other trouble spots Course Director for the Professor Kim Bennell including Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan, Diploma in Tropical Nursing Liberia and Sierra Leone. Kim Bennell is Professor at the London School of and Director of the Hygiene and Tropical In her autobiography, Moving multidisciplinary Centre Medicine and remains passionately Mountains, Claire relives the harrowing for Health, Exercise and committed to issues in the developing experiences of her career, as well as Sports Medicine, in world. the unexpected moments of kindness. Physiotherapy at the She is now head of tropical nursing at In 1984 Claire Bertschinger was a field School of Health Sciences, University of the London School of Hygiene and nurse in Mekele, northern Ethiopia, in Melbourne. Kim's research focuses on Tropical Medicine. conservative non-drug management of charge of distributing the limited food musculoskeletal conditions, particularly rations at her disposal. She was forced Claire has been awarded the Florence osteoarthritis. Kim has been awarded a to choose the children and adults with Nightingale Medal and was honoured Future Fellowship from the Australian the best chance of survival and, in her for her inspirational nursing career with Research Council and, in association own words, ‘felt like a Nazi the Woman of the Year - Window to with physiotherapy researchers from commandant, deciding who would live the World Award and the Human Rights the University of Queensland, was and who would die’. When Michael and Nursing Award from The awarded an NHMRC program grant Buerk approached with a camera crew International Centre for Nursing Ethics. which commenced in 2011, focusing on and questions, Claire outlined the scale In 2010 she was appointed a Dame musculoskeletal conditions. of the tragedy taking place every day. Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The impact of Buerk’s famine report is
widely accepted. When Claire met Bob For further information visit Geldof, he introduced her to Richard
Volume 15, Issue 4 Page 2 RESEARCH ROUNDup – what you said about this resource
Ellen McIntyre, PHC RIS Categorise RESEARCH ROUNDup according to topics At PHC RIS we are constantly looking Consider topics suggested in for ways to improve what we do. We consultation with the Department of have produced 16 issues of our Health and Ageing. resource RESEARCH ROUNDup since October 2008 and decided to evaluate The full report is available at it earlier this year.
PHC RIS’ Annual Report 2010
Fae Heaselgrave, PHC RIS reinforces this tool as an effective Australian primary health care research Executive summary means for researcher collaborations. and RESEARCH ROUNDup, provide ROAR had 850 new researcher, project, informative exchanges of information PHC RIS has published its annual organisational and funding profiles about current and relevant primary report for 2010
Page 3 PHC RIS infonet Launch of new research partnership in Melbourne’s south east Grant Russell different settings. Several study disease and dementia, an evaluation of Director, Southern Academic Primary investigators were active participants GP Superclinics and an examination of in an academic seminar entitled, the optimal ‘panel size’ for family Care Research Unit Reforming Urban Primary Care, physicians across different models of Nearly 100 policymakers, clinicians and following the launch. practice. members of the public joined leading Dr Grant Russell, Professor of General The SAPCRU launch was a great international and Australian primary Practice Research at Monash University success and the half-day seminar care researchers for the launch of an and the Unit’s inaugural Director said, which followed made for an engaging innovative new primary care research “SAPCRU provides a fantastic and thought-provoking afternoon. unit in Dandenong Victoria, on opportunity for researchers and policy Thursday 24 February 2011. makers to come together and discuss The Southern Academic Primary Care how to implement evidence-based Research Unit (SAPCRU) is the result of health reform to benefit the local a collaboration between the community”. Dandenong Casey General Practice “We are particularly excited to Association, Southern Health, and welcome international researchers Dr Monash University’s School of Primary William Hogg who is analysing health Health Care. The Unit’s primary care reform in Ontario, Canada; Drs research themes are refugee health Benjamin Crabtree and William Miller and primary care practice reform. from the United States; and many SAPCRU partners, back row Mr Steve Ballard, Dr Leon Piterman from Monash leading Australian researchers.” University launched an evaluation of Professor Grant Russell (Director of SAPCRU), SAPCRU is partners in research with a the primary health care needs of Professor Steve Wesselingh, Professor Leon refugees in the region. wide range of academic and community bodies in Australia and Piterman, Dr Graeme Downe, front row Ms SAPCRU leads a large international Canada. These include studies on Shelley Park & Ms Anne Peek , come together to study investigating the consequences implementing evidence based care to launch a new research unit in of primary care reform strategies in patients at risk of cardiovascular Melbourne's south east
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Project
Pat Maher, Program Manager, between HWs and other sections of the Workforce Innovation and Reform health workforce. This picture will be used to provide a national Anna Leditschke, Senior Project Officer understanding of HW roles and scope Health Workforce Australia of practice, inform the development of competencies, skills and education. national standards; and improve the The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Phase 2 of the project includes national range of career pathways and Islander Health Worker Project is a consultation workshops in mid 2011 to interactions with other health major workforce development project engage with key stakeholders. professionals. being conducted by Health Workforce It is envisaged that the outcomes of Australia (HWA). Phase 1 of the project involved a the project will increase recognition of literature review and interviews with This project aims to identify how the the vital role of HWs in providing key stakeholders. HWA field teams Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care to Aboriginal and Torres conducted interviews with 357 Health Health Worker (HW) workforce can be Strait Islander people and assist the Workers and/or Managers during 64 strengthened to deliver care in development of HW roles to ensure the community site visits across urban, response to the known burden and skills of the HW workforce are fully rural and remote locations in Australia. distribution of disease in the Aboriginal utilised to meet the health needs of On-line and paper based surveys of and Torres Strait Islander population. these communities. Health Workers and their Managers This project will develop a national resulted in responses from 351 Health For further information, please contact picture of the HW workforce including Workers and 103 managers. Health Workforce Australia on information such as location, roles, 1800 707 351 or visit their website Phase 2 has commenced and involves skills, qualifications and the interface
Volume 15, Issue 4 Page 4 Round two: Centres of Research Excellence
Robert Wells strong track records in various domains APHCRI provides national leadership in Director, Australian Primary Health Care of primary health care research will be facilitating the uptake of its research collaborating with emerging findings so as to improve health care Research Institute researchers who are developing their and the health system. APHCRI seeks Applications are now open for round track record. to actively engage politicians, policymakers, health care providers, two Centres of Research Excellence The Centres’ researchers will form part consumers and the media to develop (CRE) at the Australian Primary Health of the APHCRI Network, which aims to their understanding of the role they Care Research Institute (APHCRI). address priority-driven research can play in increasing the adoption of questions. APHCRI will continue to fund Up to seven multi-institutional Centres research evidence into policy and streams of research to address will receive $2.5 million each over four practice. As part of the APHCRI questions related to the health reform years to provide support for research network, PHC RIS will be involved in agenda. These streams will be teams to pursue collaborative research knowledge exchange activities and will announced periodically and are and develop research capacity in support the role of engaging key separate to the CRE program. primary health care services. APHCRI stakeholders. established three Centres in December The APHCRI website provides the For more information visit 2010. relevant application form and
Claire Jackson within an e-health framework across New South Wales (led by Professor of General Practice and the continuum of clinical microsystems. Associate Professor Julie Johnson). Primary Care, University of Queensland Research Stream 2: Improving the For more information and a full list of quality of primary healthcare through the Chief Investigators see This Australian Primary Health Care performance measurement and
Page 5 PHC RIS infonet ReportWatch: Health expenditure in Australia Bel Lunnay, PHC RIS system. Health expenditure Australia It provides specific information on the 2008-09, looks at the period from funding of health services by PHC RIS eBulletin circulates recently 1998–99 to 2008–09 and outlines geographical area for the financial published reports relevant to the insight into the costs of health care in years 2001-02, 2004-05 and 2006-07. primary health care field, and Australia, including the total dollars It examines the way services were specifically, to health reform. In the spent relative to the proportion of delivered across Australia and period December 2010 to January Australia’s national income that is compares the expenditure and usage 2011, two Australian Institute of Health spent on health. The report outlines rates of specific health services by and Welfare (AIHW) reports on the funding by the Australian residents of major cities, inner Australian health expenditure were Government and state governments, regional, outer regional, remote and included that proved popular with our private health insurance and very remote areas of Australia. subscribers. Both provide interesting individuals and compares health Together the reports indicate that insights into the financial state of our expenditures in the different states. health expenditure in Australia has health system, particularly in light of These are timely comparisons relative increased substantially (total health the proposed new financial to the NHHN’s plan to make public expenditure as a proportion of Gross arrangements for health care outlined hospitals that are currently funded by Domestic Product (GDP) has gone from by the Commonwealth Government’s the states/territories become mostly 6.3% in 1981–82 to 9.0% of GDP in National Health and Hospitals Network funded by the federal government 2008–09). (NHHN): (though managed locally). The Commonwealth, through the Health expenditure Australia Australian health expenditure by NHHN’s financial plan, will continue to 2008-09 remoteness: a comparison of make further investments in health
Primary health and public health: Not mutually exclusive
Dr Emil Djakic includes population health planning, Chair, Australian General facilitating health care service delivery to address identified needs and gaps Practice Network and a strong focus on illness The role of public health prevention and health promotion will be a fundamental approaches. These are all core public feature within the domain health functions which concerns itself with the health of the community as a of the new Medicare Local primary However, as pointed out by Professor whole and ensuring that populations health care organisations as we MacIntyre, these experts are already in have access to the care they need. venture closer to establishing this new short supply and how the Federal systematic approach to primary health As the regional organisations charged Government addresses this shortage care for Australia. with population health outcomes for remains to be seen. their communities, Medicare Locals’ Professor C Raina MacIntyre recently AGPN has strongly advocated for the close working relationships with questioned the absence of an explicit network to include, as key partners in existing public health agencies, as well reference to public health in the health their transition, a number of as building their own capacity to take reforms [MJA January 2011] stating stakeholder groups and agencies – of on these roles where required, will be that ‘public health’ is not ‘primary which public health units should be critical to the success of these primary health’. one. health care organisations. AGPN agrees. However, they are not Public health advocacy will be a Public health specialists such as mutually exclusive. In fact public Medicare Local strength – so long as epidemiologists, systems managers, health is implicitly evident in Medicare these new Medicare Locals are stocked health economists, sociologists, project Locals’ proposed functionality which with the workforce, infrastructure and managers and biostatisticians should funding to make this feature be fundamental to the features and meaningful and functional. functions of Medicare Locals.
Volume 15, Issue 4 Page 6 PHCRED Strategy: Research Capacity Building Initiative PHCRED TRI-STATE in the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences at the University of FLINDERS UNIVERSITY Massachusetts Medical School. He is an internationally recognised leader of the Elena DiBez field of health care outcomes PHCRED Tri-State assessment and a member of the Coordinator Institute of Medicine, National administration of health surveys. This P: 08 7221 8535 Academy of Sciences. Professor Ware novel work has been applied to a broad E: elena.dibez was among the first to apply ‘modern’ range of diseases and medical @flinders.edu.au psychometric methods to cross- conditions and has had a substantial calibrate translations of the Medical impact on health outcomes assessment Visit by Professor John Ware – May Outcomes Study SF-36® Health and quality of life research. Survey pursuant to the International 2011 For more details contact the Tri-State Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Coordinator Elena DiBez at The PHCRED Tri-State Program and the Project. University of Adelaide are sponsoring a [email protected] or for seminar and workshop that Professor IQOLA Project studies led to the cross details about the National program Ware will be giving in Adelaide on calibration of the SF-36® Health contact AHOC 5 May 2011. The organising body for Survey and other widely-used
UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF postgraduate studies in ways that support the formal university-based RURAL HEALTH supervisors who are situated outside the PHCRED program UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA invitations to participate in specific Erica Bell publication activities and forums Deputy Director created for the PHCRED program. This resulted in a journal paper and a Ph: 03 6226 7377 Care was taken to create a program book describing the evidence base for E: [email protected] culture that is practitioner-centred and this kind of regional-level approach to service-oriented. Research Capacity Building (RCB) Anyone working in an area important which gave mentees further to the primary health care (PHC) opportunity to reflect on what works in The ‘New Researchers’ PHCRED reform agenda can be considered for RCB for primary health care. mentoring program inclusion by the program director, Acknowledgements: The above is an particularly if their work can make a In 2010 the UDRH established a extract from Bell E, Davies L, Squibb K, significant difference to PHC outcomes mentoring program to allow primary Cannell R. (2011). Research capacity- (such as work in health care economics health care practitioners interested in building in primary healthcare: what which is presently poorly served). The research to pursue their research goals works? International Journal of Public majority of participants have been with different kinds of support. These Health, 3(4). included: nurses and allied health practitioners across very diverse healthcare one-to-one mentoring settings. There has been great a regular email bulletin outlining diversity of culture and career stage, research activities and events career seniority and career goals, as information about graduate well as geographic location. research training, research Early indicators reveal that, in its first employment - including year, the program has already opportunities for research produced a steep rise in practitioner assistant/fellows - apprenticeships, publications. A dozen of our mentees and training created by the PHCRED contributed to a book on developing program evidence-based PHC which were a peer review program that produced as part of our PHCRED includes one-to-one workshops, program [Bell E, Westert G, Merrick J, written feedback on postgraduate eds. Translational Research for Primary theses, and encouragement with Healthcare New York, Nova Science].
Page 7 PHC RIS infonet PHCRED Strategy: Research Capacity Building Initiative
RESEARCH CENTRE OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND EQUITY
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES a clustered randomised controlled trial (RCBI) Program team said goodbye to Melanie Marshall of a nurse and GP partnership for care Suzan Mehmet. Suzan joined the PHCRED Coordinator of COPD. Finally, Dr Jeremy Bunker, a UNSW RCBI team as a project officer Ph: 02 9385 8401 staff specialist at the General Practice based in the GP unit at Fairfield E: m.marshall Unit, Fairfield Hospital and Conjoint Hospital in 2001 and promptly took on @unsw.edu.au Lecturer, presented an overview of the role of Network administrator for recently completed or current COPD the UNSW Practice Based Research projects being conducted in South Network PHReNet and PHReNet-GP. UNSW Practice Based Research West Sydney. Both Nick and Jeremy’s Suzan has been an integral part of the Networks (PBRN) - PHReNet and projects utilised PHReNet-GP. Network and will be missed by both the PHReNet-GP During September 2010 a survey was RCBI team and Network members. In August 2010 PHReNet-GP hosted distributed to all PHReNet-GP members the Research on Chronic Obstructive and the Network of Research General Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care in Practices (University of Newcastle General Practice research seminar at PBRN). The purpose of the survey is to UNSW. Our invited guest speaker was establish the demographic the 2010 AAAPC visiting fellow, Dr Julia characteristics of members in the two Walters. Julia is a Tasmanian GP and research based general practice also a Research Fellow with the networks. Member demographics will Menzies Research Institute. Julia also be compared with national GP presented research on team demographics to establish how approaches and self management representative the members of the support for patients in primary care PBRNs are compared to the national GP with chronic respiratory diseases. population. Results will be distributed Nicholas Zwar, Professor of General as soon as they are available. Practice, School of Public Health and Community Medicine UNSW, presented Early in January 2011, the UNSW Research Capacity Building Initiative Ms Suzan Mehmet – Network Administrator
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL PHCRED fellowship and since then I have maintained my research interest. PRACTICE I am part of a team of 12 who were UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE awarded a $600 000 NHMRC grant to study chronic knee pain in a general Dr Ian Relf practice population. The study is a Senior Research Assistant/ medical acupuncture trial comparing research to learn before undertaking GP outcomes over 12 months for four research yourself. It is often easier to Ph: 03 8344 3371 groups of patients receiving: learn as part of a group. E: m.temple-smith acupuncture using laser, acupuncture @unimelb.edu.au using needles, placebo laser and no The RACGP also has avenues open for treatment at all. In this trial we are GPs wishing to undertake research, utilising new laser equipment, and joining a practice based research Meet GP Researcher Dr Ian Relf developed in the Department, which network, such as VicReN, can be of It was a natural progression for me to enables doctors to treat patients benefit. Supplying patients for a clinical become interested in primary care without knowing whether the laser trial is also helpful in becoming research, having completed an beam is switched on or off; an involved in research. If you see an area Honours degree prior to entering important step forward to help of clinical practice that could be medical school. After taking up full establish the real treatment effects. studied, by undertaking a clinical trial time general practice, I decided to get you could establish it as mainstream My advice to GPs with an interest in involved in research again at the treatment in western medical practice. research is to contact the General University of Melbourne. I completed a It takes a lot of time to do this but Practice Department in your local seeing patients suffer in general university and get involved with a practice is often the motivating reason team. There are many aspects of to make a difference.
Volume 15, Issue 4 Page 8 PHCRED Strategy: Research Capacity Building Initiative PHCRED QUEENSLAND fellowship holders to complete their projects and present their UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND outcomes at the annual Queensland Fellows Meeting - conference Denise Schultz bursaries and writing bursaries Statewide Coordinator have also been offered Ph: 07 3346 4905 convening workshops in research E: [email protected] skills, eg. project implementation, participants from government, non- evidence based practice, grant government, community and writing, statistics, publishing university sectors research Rural Research & Evaluation 2011 Round-up of PHCRED in delivering a graduate certificate in Training & Support for primary Queensland primary health care health care teams who are unable The PHCRED Strategy in Queensland is formal and informal general to access research support locally delivered by four university practice research networks and Annual Fellows Meeting and departments of general practice (Bond journal clubs workshops which will bring together University, Griffith University, James skills support for rural and remote approximately twenty Cook University and The University of research teams, and providing 2011 PHCRED fellowship holders to Queensland) and one university assistance to allied health teams to present their research projects and department of rural health (Mount Isa progress their research projects. attend workshops on research Centre for Rural and Remote Health). skills. In addition, the group collaborates on In 2011, the last year of funding, the state-wide activities and in 2011 will For more information about any of the activities of PHCRED programs across focus on: above activities please contact Denise Queensland will include: Schultz at [email protected] or visit 4th Annual Research for Informing the individual websites found at supporting Researcher Policy in Primary Health Care
UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF When accepted into the RDP program to learn and limited time. The realities our initial responses were firstly, fear of balancing the demands of the clinical RURAL HEALTH AND RURAL – ‘do I have the ability to take this and research worlds can be program on?’, ‘why did I apply?’, exhausting. Switching from the clinical CLINICAL SCHOOL – followed quickly by anxiety – ‘am I ‘here-and-now’ thinking to conceptual NORTHERN NSW able to operate in this rarefied and theoretical thinking can be academic setting when my experience arduous. Nevertheless, we consider UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE is much more about reality, not that the clinical and personal benefits theory?’ After a time this evolved into have been many and often Associate Professor Tony Smith self-determination – ‘this is a new unexpected. PHCRED Coordinator experience that I want to have and I Ph: 02 6767 8464 will follow it through’, and eventually E: [email protected] excitement – ‘I have a passion for From thinking like a clinician to building new skills and I really want to thinking like a researcher: do this’. A personal journey Three key factors have enabled us to Joint reflections of three RDP undertake our research study. They candidates, Sarah Massey, Judy Coates are mentoring, reflective journaling and Joy Harrison from the University of and using a structured framework for Newcastle UDRH & RCS – Northern developing our study. The benefits of NSW entering the research world go far beyond the study and its outcomes. It As clinicians operating in a world with allows growth of personal agency – clients or patients, in a health setting self-efficacy: productive thinking, that only changes imperceptibly on a optimism, motivation, perseverance day to day basis, there is limited and it develops skills and insights RDP candidates Judy Coates, Sarah Massey & opportunity to look at the ‘how’ and which have a positive influence on ‘why’ aspects of what we do and the clinical practice. Joy Harrison showing their gratitude to outcomes that we deliver. As RDP Dr Karin Fisher, their principal supervisor candidates under the RCBI program, So far, we have found the research developing research skills has given us world to be exciting, broadening, the opportunity to look at clinical enjoyable, sometimes challenging and practice from a fresh perspective. occasionally frustrating. There is much
Page 9 PHC RIS infonet PHCRED Strategy: Research Capacity Building Initiative
(SMS) training, aimed at identifying SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND barriers to SMS delivery by health DENTISTRY professionals in primary care settings,” Julie said. “My current PHCRED project JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY is to publish the evaluation in a peer reviewed journal, which includes a Rhonda Fleming literature review.” Julie Twomey PHCRED Fellows Rhonda undertook audits of Team Care Ph: 07 4781 5025 Arrangements (TCA) prepared by 2010 Australian Lifestyle Medicine E: [email protected] General Practices to ascertain the Association Conference. completion rates and evaluate the General practice nurses leading the impact of an eReferral TCA tool. “My way in primary health care next project is a literature review to research inform the development and evaluation Julie Twomey and Rhonda Fleming of an education program to improve have 33 years combined experience in chronic condition management in General Practice nursing. As PHCRED patients living with mental illness.” research fellows with James Cook Rhonda and Julie believe doing primary University, they are applying their health care research through the practical knowledge to the evaluation PHCRED program allows them to of innovative programs delivered by reflect on their programs and measure the Townsville General Practice the outcomes more comprehensively. Network. Local evidence is important to inform Julie and Rhonda are employed as change at the practice level and health Program Coordinators and are care policy. The PHCRED Research responsible for the management of Fellowship enhances their professional prevention and practice support role and allows wider dissemination of programs, including Lifestyle their achievements. Modification and Chronic Condition Since starting the Fellowship they have Management in General Practice. presented their work at several local, “I’ve completed one project on the state and national forums including a Rhonda (left) & Julie evaluation of Self Management Support joint presentation at the
DISCIPLINE OF GENERAL research project will deal with clients living in the community who have a PRACTICE neurological condition. Marika Franklin has a background in UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY State Coordination Unit. The Course psychology. She works for CanTeen and Retreat were a great success, and Dr Raechelle Rubinstein (The Australian Organisation for Young it was really interesting to learn what PHCRED Coordinator People Living with Cancer) as Research research new RDP Fellows throughout Ph 02 9556 7200 and Social Policy Officer. Her research NSW and ACT are planning to E: raechelle.rubinstein project will concern siblings of undertake this year. @sydney.edu.au adolescents and young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer. In the forthcoming issue of this
newsletter, we hope to provide you Our third RDP Fellow, Alex McLaren, with information about activities has had her RDP appointment 2011 RDP Appointments planned by the Youth Health Research extended for a second year. Her Interest Group (YHRIG) for 2011. We are pleased to announce our 2011 project involves an evaluation of the Researcher Development Program Practice Health Atlas. (RDP) appointments. We have Our new RDP Fellows attended the appointed two new Fellows – Karen NSW Primary Health Care Short Course Hutchinson and Marika Franklin. Karen and Project Development Retreat is a physiotherapist and works for the 14-17 February at UNSW. The Course Community Neurological Support and Retreat are a collaborative activity Service, Central Coast Health. Her of the seven university Departments of General Practice and Rural Health that have PHCRED Programs in NSW and ACT, together with the NSW PHCRED
Volume 15, Issue 4 Page 10 PHCRED Strategy: Research Capacity Building Initiative
a higher degree by research (MPhil) PRIMARY CARE RESEARCH and we hope that some of the others UNIT will follow. Taking up the PHCRED Fellowships this MONASH UNIVERSITY Greater Monash GP Network, has year are Seona Powell and Andrea enrolled in the MPhil and will continue Christopher Anderson Packard. Seona is from Dental Health her investigation of the knowledge Research Fellow & Services Victoria and will be gaps in infection control routines for PHCRED Coordinator investigating oral health knowledge, respiratory illnesses in south eastern Ph: 03 9902 4447 attitudes and practices of primary care metropolitan general practices and E: christopher.anderson practitioners and implications for responses to the H1N1 epidemic. @monash.edu diabetes management. Andrea, a Practice Nurse, will be investigating the All these budding researchers barriers and enablers of practices with participate in a workshop program to Continuing Research Capacity low immunisation rates. build their skills in primary health care Building at Monash University - research methodology and apply their RDP Fellowships for 2011 Second year Fellowships have been new skills to their research projects. taken up by Dr Ruth Leibowitz, a GP, Monash University has four RDP and They are all looking forward to who will continue her investigation of one RCBI Fellowships for novice attending the 2011 Primary Health the knowledge gaps between the researchers in 2011. This year we have Care Research Conference, where clinical guidelines for duration of two new RDP Fellows and four, some will present papers or posters therapy if antibiotics are prescribed for ongoing, second year Fellowships to and will take the opportunity to a sore throat, to patient adherence. build on existing research capacity in network with researchers with similar primary health care. This provides Frances Cieslak, Nurse Educator, will interests. excellent opportunities for group continue her investigation of the learning and mentoring. Following in knowledge and awareness of the footsteps of many of our RDP Hepatitis B and implications for patient Fellows, one RDP Fellow has enrolled in management. Wendy Thomas, from
WebsiteWatch: Open access websites
Directory of Open Access Repositories), exists PLoS ONE
Page 11 PHC RIS infonet Upcoming events Upcoming event? Add it to the PHC RIS diary 12-13 Apr 2011, Alice Springs NT 13-15 Jul 2011, Brisbane QLD 2ND ANNUAL EFFECTIVE ABORIGINAL AND 2011 PHC RESEARCH CONFERENCE [email protected] TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER SERVICE Inspirations, collaborations, solutions DELIVERY CONFERENCE E: [email protected] Working in partnership to improve service Web: www.phcris.org.au/conference/2011/ delivery and 'Close the gap' E: [email protected] 18-20 Jul 2011, Melbourne Vic Web: www.indigservicedelivery.com/ CONSUMERS REFORMING HEALTH The next wave in community engagement in 11-14 Oct 2011, Perth WA 19-20 Apr 2011, Edinburgh SCOTLAND health care CRANAPLUS 29TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE SSPC ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2011 Web: http://consumersreforminghealth.org Supporting the full spectrum of remote Think global health practice E: [email protected] 1-5 Aug 2011, Brisbane QLD E: [email protected] Web: www.sspc.ac.uk/events/ HIC 2011 The transformative power of innovation Web: www.crana.org.au/200-2011- 4-6 May 2011, Auckland NZ Web: www.hisa.org.au/hic2011 cranaplus-conference.html ANZSGM ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING 18-21 Oct 2011, Perth WA 2011 29 Aug-2 Sep 2011, Sydney NSW AAPM 2011 Pathways to learning AUSTRALASIAN EVALUATION SOCIETY 2011 Persistence, performance and perfection E: [email protected] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE E: [email protected] Web: www.workz4uconferences.co.nz/ Evaluation and Influence E: [email protected] Web: www.cdesign.com.au/aapm2011 4-6 May 2011, Edmonton CANADA Web: www.aes2011.com.au 16-19 Nov 2011, Melbourne VIC 2011 CONFERENCES IN COMMUNITY HEALTH AGPN NATIONAL FORUM 2011 NURSING RESEARCH 29-30 Aug 2011, Vienna AUSTRIA Roadmap for the Future – great expectations Embracing Equity and Diversity in AMEE 2011 E: [email protected] Community Health Nursing Research Inspire...and be inspired Web: www.gpnetworkforum.com.au/agpn- E: [email protected] E: [email protected] national-forum-2011 Web: www.nurs.ualberta.ca/icchnr/ Web: www.amee.org/index.asp?pg=206 22 Nov 2011, London UK 5-6 May 2011, Sydney NSW 8-9 Sep 2011, Zurich SWITZERLAND KING'S FUND ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2011 COALITION FOR RESEARCH TO ISHIMR 2011 E: [email protected] IMPROVE ABORIGINAL HEALTH CONFERENCE E: [email protected] Web: www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/ Research for a Better Future Web: www.ishimr2011.com the_kings_fund.html E: [email protected] Web: www.gemsevents.com.au/criah2011/ 15-16 Sep 2011, Adelaide SA PHCRED TRI-STATE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 25 Nov 2011, Monash VIC 2011 VICPHCRED CONFERENCE 22-25 May 2011, Darwin NT 2011 E: [email protected] RACP CONGRESS 2011 E: [email protected] Web: www.vicphcred.monash.edu.au/ Take up the Challenge: Indigenous Health Web: www.phcredtristate.org.au/#2011conf and Chronic Disease 19-22 Sep 2011, Perth WA 29 Nov-1 Dec 2011, Christchurch NZ E: [email protected] LIME CONNECTION IV Web: www.racpcongress2011.com.au/ NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH GATHERING 2011 E: [email protected] Medical education for Indigenous health: Building the evidence base 26-27 May 2011, Sydney NSW Web: www.workingwithmen.org.au/ E: [email protected] 4TH ANNUAL PREVENTIVE HEALTH SUMMIT Web: www.limenetwork.net.au/content/lime- Chronic disease prevention to improve 26-28 Sep 2011, Brisbane QLD connection-iv population health PHAA 41ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE Sustainable population health E: [email protected] 5-7 Dec 2011, Adelaide SA Web: www.iir.com.au/preventhealth E: [email protected] Web: www.phaa.net.au/41stPHAAAnnual 7TH HEALTH SERVICES & POLICY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 3-5 Jun 2011, Cairns QLD Conference.php Opportunities for health services research: to RANZCOG 2011 INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S inform, improve, and inspire HEALTH MEETING 11-13 Oct 2011, Dubbo NSW E: [email protected] E: [email protected] 4TH RURAL HEALTH RESEARCH Web: www.healthservicesconference.com.au/ Web: www.ranzcog.edu.au/iwhm2011 COLLOQUIUM 2011 Sustaining Rural Health through Research 27 Jun-1 Jul 2011, Alice Springs NT E: [email protected] 2011 ANZAHPE CONFERENCE Web: www.rhrc.com.au LOCAL? GLOBAL? Health Professional Education for Social Accountability E: [email protected] Web: http://anzahpe11.flinders.edu.au/
PHC RIS infonet is printed bi-monthly by Flinders Press, Adelaide. Editorial team: Fae Heaselgrave, Ellen McIntyre, Louise Baird, Fiona Thomas, Bel Lunnay Contributions are invited for inclusion in the newsletter. This newsletter supports the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation & Development Strategy, the Divisions Network and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (funding body). The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the editorial team or the funding body. Primary Health Care Research & Information Service General Practice, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001 P: +61 8 7221 8520 F: +61 8 7221 8544 E: [email protected] Web: www.phcris.org.au Volume 15, Issue 4 Page 12