Progress Update:

How do general practitioners work with and perceive primary health care services directly funded by government? 

Prof Fran Baum and Prof Michael Kidd are leading a team of researchers from Flinders University, in collaboration with interstate and international researchers, in a research study to investigate links between primary health care (PHC) services directly funded by government and PHC services provided by general practitioners. This is an addition to a NH&MRC funded study 'Evaluating the effectiveness of comprehensive primary health care in local communities'. 

SA Health is providing funding in 2009/10 to enable the research team to investigate the general practice perspective on comprehensive PHC and how fee-for-service GPs and state-funded PHC services can best work together to improve outcomes for clients and patients. There is a particular focus on the patient journey for people with depression and diabetes. 

The question addressed by this study is 'How does fee-for-service general practice interact with and perceive PHC services that are managed and funded directly by government?' 

Approximately 36 participants from South Australia will be interviewed in this study, comprising of:  

GPs and practice nurses, working in a general practice which either refers to, or receives referrals from, each of the five South Australian NH&MRC study sites - Port Adelaide Primary Health Care Services; Playford Primary Health Care Services; Inner Southern Community Health Service (to become Marion GP Plus); Aboriginal Health Team, Southern Adelaide Health Service; and SHINE SA Woodville Branch; and representatives from Divisions of General Practice covering the study site areas. 

Respondents will also be invited to attend the first research symposium for the broader NH&MRC funded study planned for October 2010.  

To date, the application for research ethics approval has been submitted to Flinders University, with a reply expected in March 2010. The research team are in the process of setting up a Project Advisory Group which will consist of GP and PHC stakeholders and will shortly be inviting GP participation in this study. It is anticipated that interviews will begin in April 2010. 

A further NH&MRC application will be submitted, seeking to extend the present study over a three year period to 2013. 

We anticipate that the study will provide valuable insights into how the two streams of PHC service delivery can work together for the improvement of health and health equity within local communities and we look forward to working with you.
 

For further information, please visit the project website: http://som.flinders.edu.au/FUSA/SACHRU/Research/cphc/cphc_gp.htm, or contact the Project Officer, Marlene Wiese on (08) 7221 8469 or email marlene.wiese@flinders.edu.au

 

Dr Marlene Wiese

Senior Research Officer

South Australian Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU)

Southgate Institute

Flinders University

Ph:  61(0)8 7221 8469

email: marlene.wiese@flinders.edu.au

 www: http://som.flinders.edu.au/sachru