Prepared by Dr Jason Bennie (PhD) Chief Data Officer, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network Research Strategy 2024-2027:
Leading locally driven research that enhances the health of our local communities.
1. Background
The Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) is committed to reaching our vision of ‘Well people, resilient communities across the Murrumbidgee’. Research is a central enabler to achieving this vision, as it provides evidence to inform the core functions of the MPHN. For example, research is critical to advise the coordination of local services and systems to improve the continuity of care, the commissioning of primary health services to meet population health needs and supporting capacity-building to ensure a sustainable primary healthcare workforce.
Across the Murrumbidgee region, there are existing research collaborations, institutions and infrastructures that can be leveraged to increase capacity and output for the MPHN’s primary care research in our region. Including:
• Universities with campuses located within the Murrumbidgee region: Charles Sturt University, University of New South Wales, and Notre Dame University;
• Established research agreements with the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, and Charles Sturt University;
• Access to primary care large primary care database (General Practice data) and existing data on commissioned activities (Primary Mental Health Care Minimum Data Set (PMHC MDS]);
• Access to general practices and allied health providers in our region; and
• Links with local research initiatives, including Murrumbidgee Health and Knowledge Precinct, Murrumbidgee Aboriginal Health Consortium, Albury Wodonga Health’s Primary Care & Population Health Engagement Committee, and engagement with colleagues from the Murrumbidgee Local Health District via collaborative commissioning.
Acknowledging these multiple and diverse research assets, the MPHN Strategic Plan (2023-2027) identified research as a key component under one of our three focus areas ‘Lead innovation and inspire positive impact’. Within this focus area, it was stated that a key priority for the next 5 years is “building collaborative research partnerships that build evidence and contribute to the health of our local communities”.
The purpose of this research strategy is first to provide an overview of the MPHN’s research strategy and planned activities, and second to facilitate guidance for potential researchers and other stakeholders when considering engaging with the MPHN in research-related activities.
2. Our research vision
The MPHN research vision is ‘Leading locally driven research that enhances the health of our local communities’.
3. Our research process
At MPHN, we consider research to be the foundation of quality, innovative, and effective primary health care, and such is necessary to deliver positive outcomes for a healthier region. Moreover, research is critical to provide evidence to inform future primary health care, provider commissioning and workforce service planning.
To guide the development of the MPHN’s research strategy, initially, contracts were drawn from the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network Research Strategy 2024-20271 and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Research Strategy 2021 -2024,2 and tailored towards the context of the research in the MPHN.
We have identified four key components that will assist us in obtaining our research vision – ‘Leading research that enhances the health of our local communities’. These are:
1. COLLABORATE: promoting robust research collaborations with leading primary healthcare academics, local clinicians, and key local stakeholders.
2. GENERATE: produce research that specifically addresses MPHN key priority areas and targets vulnerable and priority populations.
3. TRANSLATE: using research findings to enhance current primary care practices.
4. DISSEMINATE: Increase public awareness of our research activities by publishing in high-quality peer-reviewed scientific journals, presenting at primary healthcare conferences, and regularly updating the MPHN webpage to highlight research outputs.
Figure 1: Four Key Research Components ‘COLLABORATE, GENERATE, TRANSLATE & DISSEMINATE.
1. COLLABORATE
2. GENERATE
3. TRANSLATE 4. DISSEMINATE
4. Alignment of research strategy to MPHN Strategic Plan 2023-2027
In addition to conducting robust and meaningful research, all activities must be in alignment with the MPHN Strategic Plan. The following section provides an overview of how MPHN Research Strategy aligns and supports our Strategic Plan 20232027. Figure 2 below provides an overview of how research can support the MPHN’s focus areas and priorities.
Figure 2: An overview of research alignment with MPHN Strategic Plan 2023-2027
Priorities
1. Design models of care for priority needs and populations.
2. Address social and cultural determinants of health.
3. Understand consumer experience.
How research can support these
• Conduct rapid literature reviews on models of care and social/cultural determinants of health.
• Design/evaluate consumer experience surveys (e.g. YES and Provider Survey). Tracking changes over time.
Our focus
Invest in the communities for improved health outcomes.
1. Partner with general practice and primary health to support the wellbeing/sustainability of the workforce.
2. Build capability and capacity of general practice.
3. Advocate for communities and primary care providers to influence policy.
• Conduct regular analysis of existing workforce databases (e.g. HeaDS UPP, National Health Workforce database) to keep across local workforce challenges and capacity.
• Work with the PCE team to design and evaluate general practice capability/capacity surveys (e.g. digital maturity survey).
• Provide reviews of evidence to support community advocacy (e.g. Homelessness, 715 uptake/usage).
Support providers and enhance collaboration for stronger primary healthcare.
Trial, monitor and evaluate innovative approaches to improve primary care.
2. Build collaborative partnerships that build the evidence to improve the health of the community.
3. Empower clinical and community leaders to change primary care.
• Describe and understand MPHN General Practice database.
• Develop an internal data analytics platform to monitor general practice performance.
• Create new and leverage of existing research collaborations.
• Engage clinicians in MPHN research practices.
Lead innovation and inspire for positive impact.
1.
5. Four Key Research Components
5.1 COLLABORATE
The purpose of this component is to promote successful research collaborations with primary healthcare academics, local clinicians, and local stakeholders. The building of productive collaborations provides the opportunity to increase output. Moreover, research collaborations provide an avenue to use others’ expertise to tackle complex issues, access a wider range of resources, and increase efficiency.
Actions to ensure research alignment with COLLABORATE:
MPHN Research Engagement Checklist (Section 7, page 10) has checklist items that consider collaboration aspects of potential research.
• Is this research local to the Murrumbidgee region?
• Does this research involve local clinicians or local stakeholders?
5.2 GENERATE
A key aim of the MPHN Research Strategy is to conduct research that is meaningful to our organisation. To direct decisions on what areas and population groups to research, the MPHN Health Needs Assessment 2022-2025. In that document, the following areas and population groups were identified as priority areas: (i) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; (ii) mothers, children, and youth; (iii) older persons; and (iv) population health, including vulnerable populations who experience socio-economic disadvantage.
Actions to ensure research alignment with GENERATE:
MPHN Research Engagement Checklist (Section 7, page 10) has checklist items that consider the target population in the potential research.
• Does the research target any of the following population groups?
1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
2. Mothers, children, and youth;
3. Older persons; or
4. Vulnerable populations who experience socio-economic disadvantage.
5.3 TRANSLATE
Research translation is a branch of science that is focused on bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application. Examples of translational research in the primary healthcare context include improving diagnosis and treatment (e.g. developing new screening tools), enhancing patient education (e.g. developing effective patient education materials, implementing behaviour change interventions, optimising healthcare delivery (telemedicine and virtual care, improving patient communication).
Actions to ensure research alignment with TRANSLATE:
MPHN Research engagement checklist (Section 7, page 10) has translational-research-related checklist items when considering MPHN involvement in research activities:
• Is there a translational component described in the research summary?
• Can the findings of this research be translated to improve primary care in our region?
5.4 DISSEMINATE
Dissemination is a key component of the MPHN research cycle because it ensures that increases public awareness of our research activities. Moreover, dissemination provides an opportunity for advancing knowledge and shaping policies related to primary health care. Examples of research dissemination include academic publications, conferences and presentations, policy briefs/reports and public outreach.
Actions to ensure research alignment with DISSEMINATE:
MPHN Research engagement checklist (Section 7, page 10) has dissemination of research-related checklist items when considering MPHN involvement in research activities:
• Does the applicant have a dissemination plan?
• Does the MPHN have access to data generated from the project?
• Will MPHN be offered co-authorship on research papers and presentations?
In addition, MPHN research activities will be disseminated via:
1. Academic publications: written up as academic publications in high-quality (Q1) peer-reviewed academic journals.
2. Conferences and presentations: CDO and staff will present MPHN research at primary healthcare conference.
3. Community-based dissemination: A summary of MPHN research activities will be provided on our website. In addition, when new research is conducted this will be highlighted across the MPHN social media platforms.
References
1 Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network Research Strategy 2024-2027. Available from: https://cesphn.org.au/ news/launch-of-cesphn-research-strategy-2024-2027. Last accessed: 2 April 2024.
2 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners - RACGP research strategy. Available from: https://www.racgp.org.au/ FSDEDEV/media/documents/RACGP/Vision%20and%20strategy/RACGP-Research-strategy-2021-24.pdf. Last accessed: 2 April 2024
6: MPHN research engagement checklist
Project Name:
Organisation:
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Has the applicant provided a research summary/protocol?
Does the research program have a clearly stated primary objective/outcome?
Is there any funding allocated to the MPHN for this research?
Is there an already approved ethics application in place?
Under BAU arrangements, does the MPHN Research Lead have the capacity to support this project?
Does the research directly align with any or more of the 3 MPHN strategic focus areas?
1. Invest in the communities for improved health outcomes.
2. Support providers and enhance collaboration for stronger primary healthcare
3. Lead innovation and inspire for positive impact.
ALIGNMENT WITH MPHN RESEARCH STRATEGY
1: COLLABORATE
Is this research local to the Murrumbidgee region?
Does this research involve local clinicians or local stakeholders?
2: GENERATE
Does the research target any of the following population groups?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Mothers, children, and youth
Older persons
Vulnerable populations who experience socio-economic disadvantage
3: TRANSLATE
Is there a translational component described in the research summary?
Can the findings of this research be translated to improve primary care in our region?
4: DISSEMINATION
Does the application have a dissemination plan?
Does the MPHN have access to data generated from the project?
Will MPHN be offered co-authorship on research papers and presentations?
MPHN Research Lead notes:
Decision to engage in the research project:
Appendices
University of Sydney
1. Chief Data Officer Jason Bennie (CDO Bennie) Principal Site Lead - A Systems aPproach to enhancing community-based medication REview (ASPIRE).
Further information: aspiretrial.com.au
University of New South Wales
1. CDO Bennie Principal Site Lead - Strengthening care for rural children: stepped wedge trial in primary care.
Further information: Khano S, Sanci L, Woolfenden S, Zurynski Y, Dalziel K, Liaw ST, Boyle D, Freed GL, Moore C, Hodgins M, Le J. Strengthening Care for Children (SC4C): protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial of an integrated general practitioner-paediatrician model of primary care. BMJ open. 2022 Sep 1;12(9):e063449.
2. CDO (Bennie) is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Primary Health Care, Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, Faculty of Medicine & Health.
Charles Sturt University
1. CDO Bennie is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer, at the Faculty of Science and Health, School of Rural Medicine.
2. CDO Bennie is a part of the Adult Advisory Group for the cross-generational Physical activity project, conducted with the School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Science and Three Rivers Department of Rural Health.