Professor Jenny Reath talks about the importance of clinical trials for general practice
Prof Reath has been invited to talk with interviewers from the NHMRC about her experience both of leading clinical trials and using the evidence from clinical trials in general practice. Her insights have been posted on the NHMRC website at https://www.australianclinicaltrials.gov.au/consumers/real-stories/jennifer-reath-professor-general-practitioner
GP Research Opportunities
Our students are always keen to learn more about patient care in general practice including through research opportunities. We are grateful for the assistance many GPs have provided for WSU students and are keen to learn about how we can support you in this process. If you are interested in hearing from our students about research, please consider completing a brief 3-minute survey at the link following: https://uwsssap.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bveNGq4ophyxhgV
Support Osteoarthritis Research at Curtin University
steoarthritis is a growing problem in our community and GPs are frequently one of the front-line clinicians who manage this common condition. A research team led by A/Prof Andrew Briggs, from Curtin University, is surveying GPs, physiotherapists, practice nurses and students in Australia, New Zealand and Canada about their confidence and attitudes in osteoarthritis care. Findings from this research will help inform the implementation of models of care for osteoarthritis. Please consider participating in this 10-15minute survey and be in the draw to win a $500 prize. The link for the online clinician survey is here: https://tinyurl.com/survey-OA
The Department of General Practice is in the process of developing a special publication to celebrate and document our many achievements from 2010 - 2017. Watch this space!
Our Current Research
Western Sydney Integrated Care Program Qualitative Evaluation (Steve Trankle, Research Fellow)
The Western Sydney Integrated Care Program (WSICP) aims to provide seamless coordinated care for people across primary, community, and hospital settings. The NSW Ministry of Health (MoH) is supporting Western Sydney in developing, implementing and evaluating an innovative and sustainable service model addressing chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD and congestive cardiac failure.
The Department of General Practice at Western Sydney University is conducting a qualitative evaluation of the WSICP centred on stakeholder experiences including the processes around care integration and coordination, and service provider collaborations. 125 semi-structured interviews were conducted in two rounds with patients and carers, a multidisciplinary cohort of service providers, and organisational stakeholders. Findings to be reported on 30 June 2017 will complement other evaluation activities conducted by the MoH and inform the ongoing implementation of the WSICP. It is anticipated the lessons learnt and the capabilities developed can be further applied in broader health care management in both Western Sydney and NSW.
Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network Cancer Screening Programs: Qualitative Evaluation (Steve Trankle and Christine Metusela - Research Fellows)
Compared to national averages, lower rates of screening in the areas of Breast Cancer, Bowel Cancer and Cervical Cancer have been noted within the Nepean Blue Mountains region. To address this, the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (NBMPHN) is developing and implementing a range of strategies aimed at supporting general practices and the community more broadly to encourage greater cancer screening participation. The NBMPHN initiatives target Breast Cancer screening for Aboriginal Women in Lithgow and women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds who reside in Blue Mountains and Penrith. Initiatives are also aimed at increasing Cervical screening in Penrith and Bowel Cancer Screening for males in Penrith and Hawkesbury.
The Department of General Practice at Western Sydney University is undertaking a qualitative investigation as part of a larger Program Logic evaluation framework it is developing for NBMPHN. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a range of stakeholders including consumers and GPs. Interviews will focus on experiences, attitudes and processes around the screening initiatives. The qualitative evaluation and broader use of the Program Logic framework will inform NBMPHN as they seek to increase and maintain higher cancer screening rates in their region.
Understanding patient-centred medical home transitions in Western Sydney (Christine Metusela, Research Fellow)
WentWest, the Primary Health Network in Western Sydney is a leader in developing the patient-centred medical home (PCMH) in Australia. WentWest sees the PCMH model as a critical component of health system improvement.
The Department of General Practice at Western Sydney University is undertaking a qualitative investigation with WentWest examining the barriers, facilitators and critical success factors of the PCMH transition. Semi-structured interviews are being conducted with a range of medical practices including those transitioning to a PCMH model as well as former PCMH and non-PCMH practices, around the experiences, attitudes and processes in transitioning to a PCMH practice. Cost interviews are also being conducted with the practices transitioning to a PCMH model to assess their costs of transformation. This research will assist us in understanding the PCMH implementation process and will create opportunities for future research.