Research
In 2023-24, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN promoted over:
30
primary care research requests to stakeholders in our region
15
letters of support
Strengthening Care for Children
The Strengthening Care for Children (SC4C) study was funded by an National Health and Medical Research Council partnership grant involving University of NSW, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN, Sydney Children’s Hospital Network (NSW sites) and Royal Children’s Hospital, North West Melbourne PHN, University of Melbourne, and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Victoria sites).
The trial brought GPs and paediatricians together for 12 months, through in-person co-consultation, with paediatricians also offering support through phone/email and case discussions.
The aim of the study was to strengthen GP paediatric skills and knowledge and reduce unnecessary referrals to hospital paediatric emergency and outpatient departments.
In total 21 general practices participated (10 in NSW, 11 in VIC) with 144 enrolled GPs.
In 2023-24, the project team published the results of the qualitative analysis. Key learnings:
- Overall, participants found SC4C acceptable and suitable for general practices, with GPs willing to learn and expand their paediatric care role. GPs cited improved confidence and knowledge due to the model.
- Paediatricians reported an enhanced understanding of the general practice context and the strain under which GPs work.
- GPs and paediatricians reported the model allowed them to build trust-based relationships with a common goal of improving care for children. Additionally, they felt some aspects, including the lack of remuneration and the work and effort required to deliver the model, need to be considered for the long-term success of the model.
- Families expressed their satisfaction with the shared knowledge and quality of care jointly delivered by GPs and paediatricians and highlighted that this model of care provides easy access to specialty services without out-of-pocket costs.
- Future research should focus on finding strategies to ensure the long-term implementation of this model of care with a particular focus on the individual stressors in general practices.
The data is published here and further information will be available in upcoming published papers.
PHN students
Over the last year Central and Eastern Sydney has hosted five students from the University of Sydney undertaking their Masters of Public Health.
These students successfully completed research reports into:
Establishing a primary care emergency response team for disaster management
This research project explored the acceptability, enablers and barriers to establishing a Primary Care Emergency Response Team (PCERT) in the region. A survey and qualitative interview were conducted with primary care providers including GPs, practice nurses, pharmacists, psychologists and a mental health nurse and social worker. The questions explored their views on primary care’s role and skills in disaster management; and how Central and Eastern Sydney PHN could successfully support the establishment a multidisciplinary primary care emergency response team. The PHN will consider the recommendations of this research in establishment of a PCERT for the region.
Integrating dental care into primary healthcare
Using a mixed methods approach, this project aimed to investigate the level of interest among dentists to be more involved in primary health care, assess the current digital health capabilities of dentists and identify the knowledge of dentists of the role of primary health care. The key findings highlighted areas where targeted interventions can facilitate better integration of dental care into primary healthcare and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Implementation activities are now under consideration.
The Commonwealth Strengthening Medicare – GP Grants Program 2023
This research project aimed to explore the challenges encountered in implementing the Strengthening Medicare – GP Grants Program 2023 among GPs in our region, via survey and qualitative interviews. Key findings indicated that the GP Grants Program has driven a significant uptake of quality improvement initiatives among General Practices. The streamlined application process, minimal administration and support from CESPHN emerged as important factors contributing to the program’s high acceptability among participating practices.
In partnership with the Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit the PHN also provided placement for two Public Health Registrars.
Support at Home Program: Local Impact
Community age care programs are being restructured under the Support at Home Program. These changes were first announced in 2022, however, were postponed due to significant concerns raised by service providers about their ability to continue providing such services. This project, using an exploratory evaluative design with mixed methods, sought to better understand the impact of these reforms, in particular the proposed Support at Home program on community aged care providers.
We also hosted an Aboriginal Population Health Trainee who as part of their Masters undertook a project that examined the cultural competence of a local service and barriers to participation.
