VicReN, University of Melbourne, Department of GP No Images? Click here ![]() VicReN - Victorian Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network e-bulletin February 2018 Strengthening our research networkWelcome to the VicReN e-bulletin, the first since my appointment. I bring to this role research, practice and project management experience, and I look forward to further expanding and strengthening this fantastic research network that is now in its 13th year! It is an exciting time to in primary care research with so many large and small opportunities for primary care providers to get involved. The Data for Decisions research initiative, which comes under the VicReN umbrella, is particularly ground-breaking - more on that below. 2018 will be a year for us to review and reflect on the network so that it can move from strength to strength, our sights ever set on expanding practitioners' research capacity, building knowledge and informing primary healthcare practice and policy. Do contact me if you wish to discuss any aspect of the network. Also, don't hesitate to let other healthcare practitioners and managers working in primary and community health settings know about VicReN, we welcome new members. As well as research opportunities, this bulletin contains information on forthcoming seminars to stimulate your interest, and details on findings from research that has been made possible through the contribution of VicReN members. Please read on... Rachel Canaway - VicReN Manager Want to know more about VicReN?Contact: Dr Rachel Canaway, VicReN Manager VicReN Committee MeetingsThe next meeting is on Thursday 28th February (6.30-8.30pm). If you are interested in attending a future meeting as a guest, please contact Rachel Canaway. Contents
Congratulations Lena Sanci!Our VicReN Chair, Associate Professor Lena Sanci, was recently appointed Interim Head of the Department of General Practice. Lena replaces Prof Jane Gunn in this role. Despite her busy schedule, Lena also continues her clinical work at Family Planning Victoria's Action Centre (teen sexual and reproductive health clinic). Prof Jane Gunn, a VicReN founder, retains a part time appointment in the Department and is now Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Research Opportunities#1. Data for Decisions - Contribute to a primary care research data repository![]() Individual patient medical records are important documents for patient care. When de-identified, and combined with thousands of other medical records, they create a powerful tool that has potential to improve health care and services through research, measurement of quality and safety, etc. Data for Decisions is an exciting new research initiative at the Department of General Practice, under the VicReN umbrella. We are seeking general practices to contribute to the database, thus making possible the learning opportunities made available only by research conducted within large data sets (prescribing patterns, patient outcomes, patient journey, longitudinal research, etc). We will be contacting general practices for permission to collect de-identified information from patient medical records using GRHANITE software. The collected information is securely stored and curated at the University of Melbourne (in the Patron data repository).Together we have an opportunity to make better use of existing primary care data to improve knowledge, medical education, healthcare policy and the way medical care is delivered, and so ultimately improve the health of Australians. Researchers wishing to use the de-identified data go through a rigorous application process that includes satisfying independent Data Governance and ethics committees. Want more information? Email: Dr Rachel Canaway Website: Under construction Activities: Responsible researcher: Ethics ID: 1647396 ![]() #2. How do you manage chronic ![]() This project will explore GPs' experiences of chronic (non-cancer) pain management and use of non-opioid and non-pharmacological therapies. Better understanding of GPs' perspectives on this topic is particularly relevant in light of the legislative changes now in place regarding consumer access to medicines containing codeine. We are calling on GPs to give around 30 minutes of their time to discuss their experiences in this area. Please contact Miriam Oldfield, final year medical student. ![]() Want to get involved? Contact Miriam Oldfield Activity: Approx 30 minute interview (phone or face-to-face). Student Researcher: Supervisors: Ethics ID: 1750153 #3. What is known about the There is little documented that provides insight into the changing nature of general practice in Australia. This project investigates what makes up the working life of today's GPs and how it has changed over the years. GPs! Please contribute your insights so that the changing nature and diversity of general practice can be captured. GPs with a variety of experience and background are encouraged to contact Veng Hieu. Veng will document your stories via 30-45 minute semi-structured interviews (face-to-face or telephone), at a time and place convenient to you. All participants remain anonymous in the research findings. ![]() ![]() Want to get involved? Contact Veng Hieu (final year medical student) Activity: Approx 30-45 minute interview (phone or face-to-face) Supervisors: Ethics ID: 1647195 #4. The role of physiotherapists in providing nutrition care ![]() Nutrition care is nutrition or dietary related advice given by health professionals to improve dietary behaviour of patients. We would like to know more about practices, barriers and further training or resource needs that could facilitate nutrition care for health promotion among physiotherapy clients. We are seeking any physiotherapists working in rural and regional Victoria to tell us about their experiences of providing (or not providing) nutrition care to their patients. All participants remain anonymous in the research findings. If you know of any interested physiotherapists, please alert them to this study. ![]() Want to get involved? Contact Kaleswari Somasundaram (MPhil student) for more information. Activity: Rural and regional Victorian physiotherapists to participate in a 30-40 minute face-to-face or phone interview. Student Researcher: Responsible researcher: Ethics ID: 1850995 #5. GPs' perspectives on exercise and nutrition across the cancer journey![]() Little is known about issues faced by GPs around giving advice and making recommendations about exercise and nutrition to patients with cancer. This study seeks to better understand these issues so that resources can be developed to assist GPs in this area. If you are a GP that treats at least one patient with cancer per week, you may be able to contribute to this research. GPs from metropolitan, regional and rural areas are needed. All participants remain anonymous in the research findings. Eligible GPs will participate in a phone interview (approx 20 minutes) and will be reimbursed for their time. ![]() Want to get involved? Contact: Ms Jamie Waterland jamie.waterland@petermac.org Activity: Approx 20 minute phone interview (with reimbursement for time). Responsible researcher: Ethics ID: 1750666 #6. GPs' experiences of
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