RACGP GP Research Project Noticeboard

We are conducting a qualitative study to explore how smoking cessation interventions can be optimally embedded into an organised Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) program in the Australian setting. The study involves participation in a telephone/online interview or face-to-face/online focus group.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)

ACT, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, WA – all areas

Name of investigators/Contact person.

Associate Professor Nicole Rankin (Chief Investigator), Dr Diane Harland (Contact person), Ms Sarah York, Ms Ashleigh Sharman, Professor Billie Bonevski, Dr Emily Stone (Thoracic Physician), Dr Mei Ling Yap (Radiation Oncologist), Dr Henry Marshall (Thoracic Physician), Associate Professor Joel Rhee (GP), Dr Marianne Weber.

Contact details

Dr Diane Harland (Study Coordinator), Senior Research Fellow, dianer@uow.edu.au, uow.edu.au

School of Graduate Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, The University of Wollongong

Brief Description of participants/practices sought (inclusion and exclusion criteria)

All GPs interested in smoking cessation, tobacco control, lung cancer, and lung cancer screening.

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients

45-50 Minutes

Compensation offered

$50 gift voucher

The purpose of this research is to explore, through individual interviews, what people think and feel about the term ‘psychosocial disability’ as a way of describing and understanding the effects of mental health challenges, distress, responses to trauma or mental illness, and what effect the growing use of this term has had on the lives of people who consider themselves or are considered to belong in this category, the way they see themselves, and the way other people see them.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area): National, but the research team is based in the ACT.

Name of investigators: Ms Terri Warner, Professor Christine Phillips

Contact details: Terri.Warner@anu.edu.au; Christine.phillips@anu.edu.au

Brief Description of participants/practices sought. We are seeking people in medical, allied health or support roles whose work involves assessing, treating or supporting people with a mental health diagnosis and who have some experience with NDIS processes. As part of this study we will also be interviewing people with a mental health diagnosis and people in caring roles.

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients: A single interview of approx. 1 hour

Compensation offered: $50 Westfield voucher

This study aims to explore how GPs discuss weight stigma with their patients, and what their thoughts are on weight-neutral (or weight-inclusive) approaches to health. Weight-neutral approaches focus on improving physical, psychological and behavioural health indices while avoiding discussions about weight and weight-loss. GP perspectives on weight-neutral approaches have yet to be examined. It is important to understand the perspectives of GPs as they often work closely with allied health professionals such as dietitians and psychologists in addressing people’s engagement with health practices (e.g., healthy eating).

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)

GPs practicing in any State or Territory in Australia

Name of investigators/Contact person. Highlight GP investigators.

• Dr Natalie Jovanovski (Centre for Health Equity)
• Lynn Gillam (Department of Paediatrics)
• Louise Keogh (Centre for Health Equity)
• Rosalind McDougall (Centre for Health Equity)
• Tess Jaeger (Centre for Health Equity)
• Rita McMorrow (GP)

Contact details

Dr Natalie Jovanovski

+61 3 9035 8774

jovanovskin@unimelb.edu.au

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients

Should they agree to participate, GPs will be asked to attend a 30 – 45-minute interview. As part of this interview, they will be asked to share their views and approaches to addressing weight stigma, and any considerations that shape their decision-making processes regarding weight stigma, as part of their general practice. They will also be asked to share their perspectives on weight-neutral approaches and how these connect with their current practice, as well as any concerns they may have regarding weight-neutrality in general practice or medicine more broadly. Interviews will be audio-recorded either in-person (lockdown restrictions permitting) or via telephone/zoom teleconferencing system (depending on your physical location and preferences).

GPs currently diagnosed with, or receiving treatment for an eating disorder, will not be eligible to participate in this study.

Compensation offered

GPs will be reimbursed with a $50 Coles supermarket or Coles/Myer gift card.

OASIS is a randomised, placebo controlled study which will investigate if oral glucocorticoids, compared to placebo:

• Reduce leg pain intensity
• Improve other outcomes eg disability, back pain
• Are safe and cost effective

200 adults with acute sciatica will be randomised to receive oral prednisolone, taken once a day for a maximum of 13 days.

Participants will be recruited on presentation to general practice or via telehealth. Follow up by OASIS team for one year.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)

Australia wide

Name of investigators

A/Prof Christine Lin, Prof Jane Latimer, Dr Christina Abdel Shaheed (Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney) Prof Andrew McLachlan (Sydney School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney) Mr Qiang Li (The George Institute for Global Health) Contact person Melissa Webb (melissa.webb@sydney.edu.au)

GP Investigator Dr Paul Schnitzler

Contact details:

Melissa Webb melissa.webb@sydney.edu.au

Website: www.OASIS-trial.com

Brief Description of participants/practices sought

All GPs can participate

Patient Inclusion

Adults with acute sciatica of at least moderate intensity; no more than 6 weeks since onset.

Patient Exclusion

Serious spinal pathology; contraindications to glucocorticoids or precautions to glucocorticoids where risks outweigh potential benefit. Used a systemic glucocorticoid (via any method of administration) since the start of this episode of sciatica; spinal surgery in the preceding 6 months; planned surgery or other interventional procedures during the treatment period, insufficient English or unavailability of suitable translation, females who are pregnant, breast feeding or planning conception

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients

GP role

Identify, screen and consent eligible patients with acute sciatica

Monitor patient condition, medication and adverse events during treatment. Be an active participant in evidence-based research and receive honorarium for study-related activities.

30 minute training (online or face to face) – GP reimbursed for time

Up to 30 min to recruit participant -GP reimbursed for time

Data collection and follow ups conducted by the OASIS team at the University.

Compensation offered

Participants will receive gift voucher/s of a value not greater than $60 in total as compensation for time involved in completing questionnaires. GPs will receive an honorarium commensurate to time spent on study related activities.

This research will investigate the management of low back pain and smartphone applications for the self-management of low back pain. It aims to learn more about how health professionals manage low back pain in their clients and whether they use smartphone applications to manage their clients’ low back pain, and if so, which applications they choose. You are eligible to participate in the anonymous survey if you are a registered Australian health professional that treats patients with low back pain.

Participants in this study you may choose to be entered into a draw to win one of four $25 vouchers.

Survey link: Self-management of low back pain

The online survey is anonymous and take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

The Black Dog Institute is conducting an anonymous online survey, which aims to understand the impact of mental health service wait times on Australian General Practitioners’ treatment of mental health problems in youth patients (aged 12 to 17 years) as well as GPs’ openness to referring their youth patients to digital interventions during the waiting period.  With the increased demand on in-person mental health services through COVID-19 and the associated negative consequences of long wait times, we are looking for ways we can help support our young people during this critical period.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)

Australia wide

Contact details (Name, email address, website link)

For more information or to participate, please see the study website or contact:

Dr Belinda Parker: belinda.parker@blackdog.org.au

Dr Rebecca Overton GP

Brief Description of participants/practices sought (inclusion and exclusion criteria, or a hyperlink to this)

This study is suitable for Australian GPs who are:

• AHPRA-registered

• Registered with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and/or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

• Currently working with youth patients (aged between 12 and 17 years) with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression

Time involvement of GPs

The anonymous survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Compensation offered

GPs who complete the survey will be issued a $50 e-gift voucher (via GiftPay) to thank them for their time.

This is a qualitative study and will involve semi-structured interviews with primary healthcare professionals about their experiences of providing smoking cessation advice and treatment. The project aims to explore challenges in providing smoking cessation treatment, attitudes towards recent changes in nicotine regulation, and how they are impacting on clinical practice. The study is funded by The University of Queensland and supported of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Mental Health and Other Drugs Branch of Queensland Health.

Participant interviews will be conducted in person, by phone or via video conferencing (based on participant preference) by a researcher trained in conducting qualitative interviews.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area):

Australia wide

Name of investigators/Contact person. Highlight GP investigators. Contact details (Name, email address, website link):

For more information visit Views of healthcare professionals on smoking cessation options project or contact Kylie Morphett k.morphett@uq.edu.au or 07 3346 4689.

Brief Description of participants/practices sought (inclusion and exclusion criteria, or a hyperlink to this):

General practitioners in Australia who provide smoking cessation advice or treatment to patients.

Commencement date of the project:

The project began in February 2022, with interviews commencing from March 2022.

Closing date for recruitment:

Interviews will be concluded in July 2022.

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients:

30-minute interview conducted via phone, teleconference or in person (depending on participant preference)

Griffith University is looking for Queensland based General Practitioners and Practice Nurses to participate in a 45-minute interview to determine the acceptability and feasibility of a Queensland Health e-learning suite for continual professional development. Findings will be used to explore GP’s and Practice Nurse’s perceptions of online continual professional development to support patients with behaviour change (GU Ref No: 2022/120).

Participants will be reimbursed for their time with a $100 Coles Myer gift card. For further details or to participate, please send an email with your preferred interview time to: lauren.raumer-monteith@griffithuni.edu.au

Geographical Location: Queensland

Contact Details:

Lauren Raumer-Monteith

lauren.raumer-monteith@griffithuni.edu.au

Brief Description of Participants:

Queensland based general practitioners and practice nurses active in practice. Aged over 18 years and English speaking.

Time involvement of GPs and/or Practice Staff:

45-minute interview

Compensation Offered:

Participants will be reimbursed for their time with a $100 Coles Myer gift card.

 

AIM: We are designing an online, learning support platform for GPs and practice nurses about behaviour change in general practice. Your voice is an important part of this discussion.

WHO: We are recruiting GPs and practice nurses working in Australia. You must be able to understand and speak English to participate.

YOUR ROLE: Your role will be to participate in 2 highly interactive virtual workshops. Each workshop will have an experienced facilitator and be attended by GPs and practice nurses and the research team.

• WORKSHOP #1: Wednesday 27 April 6.30pm AEST Prioritising what matters –identifying needs, gaps and barriers, and designing the platform
• WORKSHOP #2: Wednesday 8 June 6.30pm AEST Platform consensus

Participants will be offered a $150 gift card in appreciation of their time at the completion of the two workshops.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this online survey

Behaviour change is a key tenant of primary care. The Change Talk research team brings together academics at Griffith University, Monash University, Australian National University and Athabasca University to investigate how General Practitioners can be best supported to enact behaviour change in practice.

We need your help. The change talk team has launched a brief survey asking you to share information about behaviour change tools and strategies you’ve come across that could be used to inform future training for health professionals. The findings of the survey will be used to inform the development of an online, interprofessional, learning support platform for GPs and primary care nurses. This study has received ethics approval (Griffith University Ethics Approval Number (2021/780). Whilst your participation is voluntary, we very much value your input. 

Please contact Lauren for the survey link, study information sheet, and attached consent information. A/Prof Lauren Ball, email:  l.ball@griffith.edu.au 

General Practice is a relationship-based speciality. Previous research has established the importance of the doctor-patient relationship as the basis of whole person general-practice care. The benefits of healthy doctor-patient relationships are well established, including, for example, improved patient adherence, satisfaction and perceived health outcomes.

This research, funded by a RACGP Foundation research grant, aims to build on previous work by exploring how healing GP-patient relationships are cultivated and experienced, from both patient and GP perspectives.

We are seeking to recruit practices and GPs to participate in the study. Patients of consenting GPs will be invited to complete an initial patient survey, after which a smaller number of patients and their GPs will be invited to participate in semi-structured interviews and complete an additional questionnaire. We seek to minimise any inconvenience of participating to practices, with the survey accessed by a QR link displayed at practice reception. Patients and GPs who are invited for interview and participate will be compensated for their time with a $50 gift voucher.

For further information please see the Practice Information and Consent Form and the GP Information and Consent Form. If you are a GP interested in participating or would like further information, please contact Dr Hayley Thomas (h.thomas@uq.edu.au).

On behalf of the research team:

Dr Hayley Thomas (Senior Lecturer, General Practice Clinical Unit, The University of Queensland)

A/Prof Nancy Sturman (Associate Professor, General Practice Clinical Unit, The University of Queenland)

Dr Johanna Lynch (Senior Lecturer, General Practice Clinical Unit, The University of Queensland)

A/Prof Lauren Ball (Associate Professor, Healthy Primary Care Team, Griffith University)

Dr Elizabeth Sturgiss (Senior Research Fellow, School of Primary and Allied Healthcare, Monash University)

A/Prof Megan Best (Associate Professor of Bioethics, Institute for Bioethics and Society, The University of Notre Dame)

Dr Emily Burch (Research Assistant, General Practice Clinical Unit, The University of Queensland)

Western Sydney and Monash Universities are undertaking research on the translation of clinical guidelines on PCOS in general practice. The project aims to understand the barriers to and enablers of using tools that have been developed to assist GPs in providing care to women with PCOS. The project is led by Dr Carolyn Ee (academic GP) and is funded by an NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Women’s Health in Reproductive Life Project Grant. 

You are invited to complete a brief anonymous survey (approx. 15 minutes) which will ask you what you think of three guideline translation tools, how they could fit into your clinic workflow, and any suggestions for modification. Your contribution will be invaluable in assisting the guideline translation team to develop improved tools to help GPs with management of PCOS. 

Participation is completely voluntary, and there are no consequences should you decide not to take part. There is no remuneration for completing the survey, and we are very grateful for your contribution towards helping us develop better tools to help with clinical management of PCOS in general practice.

For more information please refer to our participant information sheet or email Dr Carolyn Ee at c.ee@westernsydney.edu.au. This project has received Ethics approval from the Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee (H14733, 17/12/21)

Start survey

Exploring the Ethical Climate of Health Professionals working in Restricted Environments: A Case Example. Delivering health care deemed to be of an “equivalent” standard within restricted environments such as off detention poses ethical dilemmas. The governing systems for restricted environments may have implications for the freedoms of those receiving care. Health professional’s working in such environments may experience ethical challenges when conflicted between their duty of care for the health and well- being of their consumers and employer contractual obligations.

This can give rise to health professionals experiencing ethical dilemmas with implications for themselves and the quality and safety of those they care for.

 

What is required?

• An Interview - either face to face or online. Participant choice.
• An audio recording of the interview which will then be transcribed. 

Confidentiality?

• Your name and any identifying information will be de-identified via coding.
• The audio file post transcribing is destroyed
• All personally de-identifying information will be stored on an encrypted hard drive
• and deleted seven years after completion of the study. 

Who is eligible?

• You are an AHPRA registered health professional or AASW registered social worker
• You were contracted to and delivered health care to asylum seekers detained in Nauru for a minimum of three months.
• Are not bound by a current confidentiality agreement.

 

Contact: kim.elkovich@hdr.mq.edu.au
Phone: M 0439 300 614

The recent pandemic has highlighted the potentially beneficial role of digital health technologies in helping chronic disease patients self-manage their disease at home.  As publicly funded healthcare service providers increasingly make decisions about purchasing digital health technologies for CDSM, we need to understand what information is important for healthcare service providers to help make those decisions.

As a GP your experience and opinions on digital health technologies for CDSM provide valuable insight into clinician preferences for the critical attributes required in adopting these technologies.  Let your voice be heard in this survey.

The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Your individual response will be confidential. Your identity as a participant will remain anonymous.
We hope that the results from this study will help healthcare service providers to purchase digital health technologies that are the best for managing the needs of their patients with chronic disease.

The research team includes GP Dr. Kam Wong, Amy von Huben (Ph.D. candidate) and Health Economics Professor, Kirsten Howard. The investigators have no conflicts of interest. The study is ethically approved by the University of Sydney. (Ref: 2021/847).

If you are interested in participating, please click the survey link below to read the participant information statement. If you agree to participate, you will be directed to complete the survey online. Please note that completion and submission of this survey means that you consent to participate in this study.
 

Survey link 

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Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)
All states and all areas.
 

Name of investigators/Contact person.
Amy von Huben (Ph.D. candidate) under supervision of Ph.D. supervisors (Professor Kirsten Howard, Health economics) and GP collaborator, Dr Kam Wong 
 

Contact details
Dr Kam Wong (kam.wong@sydney.edu.au)
Amy von Huben (amy.vonhuben@sydney.edu.au)

Researchers at the University of Western Australia are investigating Australian GPs’ knowledge, and utilisation of resources and guidelines, in prescribing psychotropic medication during the perinatal period. Mental ill-health is a common presentation for women of reproductive age, and management of psychiatric disorder in those wishing to conceive or who are pregnant remain complex and challenging for both patients and health practitioners alike. This research seeks to understand GPs perception of supports and barriers in prescribing and managing psychotropic medication for women in the perinatal period and how education programs and resources may be better developed to aid in their day-to-day clinical practice.

Australian GPs will be invited to complete the online survey. Our intention is to collection approximately 500 survey responses. Data collection will be de-identified, however, GPs will be invited to provide contact details to the researchers if they are interested in entering the prize draw for the survey, additionally, if they are interested in participating in a qualitative interview for the study.

Geographic Location the Project Wishes to Recruit From: Australia Wide

Name Of Investigators: Dr Jacqueline Frayne, Dr Thinh Nguyen, Tamara Lebedevs, Dr Talila Milroy, Dr Beverly Teh, Sarah Seddon

Contact Details: Dr Jacqueline Frayne (Jacqueline.Frayne@uwa.edu.au) & Sarah Seddon (Sarah.Seddon@uwa.edu.au)

Anonymous Survey Link

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Brief Description of Participants/Practices Sought: General practitioners and GP registrars practicing in Australia.

Time Involvement of GPs: GPs will complete an approximately 15-minute online survey. At the end of the survey GPs can self-identify to take part in a 45-minute phone interview to further explore their experiences with prescribing psychotropic mediation during the perinatal period.

Compensation Offered: Participants who complete the online survey can choose to enter a prize draw to win one of five $100 Coles/Meyer gift cars. All participants who complete the qualitative interview will receive a $150 Coles/Meyer gift card.

The AusCAPPS network seeks to address long standing and well-defined barriers to primary care provision of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and medical abortion in Australia. AusCAPPS has been developed in partnership with the RACGP, RANZCOG, APNA, the PSA, and other key stakeholders in women’s health services. The network will:

• Connect GPs, pharmacists and nurses around Australia who provide LARC and medical abortion
• Provide access to training and education opportunities relating to LARC insertion and medical abortion
• Enable clinicians to ask questions to colleagues and experts
• Give access to resources, guidelines, referral forms and patient handouts
• Keep you connected with the latest news and research related to LARC and medical abortion

Join the network

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)

Australia-wide

Name of investigators

• Lead investigator- Professor Danielle Mazza
• GP investigators- Professor Danielle Mazza, A/Professor Wendy Norman, Professor Deborah Bateson and Dr Philip Goldstone
• Other investigators- Professor Kirsten Black, Professor Angela Taft,
• A/Professor Kevin McGeechan and Professor Jane Tomnay

Contact details

Sharon James, Sharon.james@monash.edu

Brief Description of participants/practices sought

GPs, practice nurses and community pharmacists working in primary care are invited to the join the AusCAPPS network.

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients

Time is self-directed over the course of the 2 years that the Network will be live

Availability of CPD points

Self-reported for time spent within network. RACGP CPD points awarded for the webinar series

Deakin University are currently reviewing the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Strategic Action Plan (2018-2028) and want to hear the experiences of those healthcare workers, service providers, and researchers that are proposed to benefit from this Plan. All responses are welcome, regardless of whether you have received a lot of information, or no information at all, about the FASD Strategic Action Plan. We are interested in your views as an individual, not your views as part of an organisation, regarding the implementation of the FASD Strategic Action Plan so far. This will allow us to determine what aspects of the Plan have been impactful, and what areas need greater focus moving forward.

This online survey is completely voluntary and anonymous, and should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. Your choice to participate or not will not impact on your relationship with any organisation or with Deakin University. This study has received Deakin University ethics approval (reference number: HEAG-H 197_2021).

If you are interested in taking part in this survey. This will take you to the Plain Language Statement for this research project, which will provide more detail about what is involved in this study. You can then decide whether you would like to take part in the survey. You can also go into the draw to win 1 of 10 $50 Coles e-vouchers upon completion of the survey.

If you have any questions after reading the Plain Language Statement, please do not hesitate to contact the research team as they are more than happy to answer any queries. Dr. Dominique de Andrade: d.deandrade@deakin.edu.au.

The research on Australian RTPM tools is limited. There are several priority gaps that can be investigated. Research is needed to investigate healthcare practitioner use of RTPM tools and examine barriers and facilitators to use. In conjunction, the feasibility of RTPM as a clinical support tool must also be examined. It is imperative to understand how RTPM tools support clinicians, in order to maximise their use and hence their efficacy in practice. Previous research indicates that it is unclear whether healthcare professionals have sufficient guidelines and guidance to support PDMP use. Research is needed to examine what support (including guidelines) practitioners need to maximise the use of RTPM tools.

The questionnaire will ask you about practitioner experiences with RTPM tools, how and when they use them, whether they find them useful and if there are any barriers and/or facilitators to their use. The findings from this survey will provide some insight into whether RTPM tools assist in the clinical decision making process and what is needed to optimise the application of RTPM tools in clinical practice. The questionnaire is presented as a series of statements or options where the participant selects (ticks) the checkbox that most applies to them. There is an opportunity for participants to provide a free text comment, if they have anything else they wish to discuss about this topic.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area) 

Prescribers and pharmacists who are registered practitioners in Australia and are authorised to use a RTPM tool: ACT, South Australia, New South Wales (Hunter, New England and Central Coast region only), Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania.

Name of investigators/Contact person

Dimi Hoppe, Dr Hanan Khalil and Dr George Liu

Contact details

Dimi Hoppe 

Email: D.Hoppe@latrobe.edu.au

Mobile: 0409 146636 

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Brief Description of participants/practices sought

Prescribers and pharmacists who are registered practitioners in Australia and are authorised to use a RTPM tool: ACT, South Australia, New South Wales (Hunter, New England and Central Coast region only), Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania. 

All clinical practice regions and areas where RTPM tools are accessible including primary, secondary and tertiary care locations. 

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients 

The survey takes 7-10 minutes to complete. 

We are pleased to invite you to partake in the FM Vax: An International Survey on the Integration of Public Health and Primary Care in COVID-19 Vaccination Campaigns research study. The aim is to identify the primary health care approach used by different countries in implementing their vaccination programmes for COVID-19, with a focus on the integration of public health and primary care.

We are interested in input from primary health care professionals, such as clinicians, researchers and policymakers who can respond regarding their own countries. We kindly request your participation by completing a 15-minute survey that is available in 7 languages. You will have the option to enter a prize draw to win an e-book entitled How To Do Primary Care Educational Research. 

We welcome you to learn more about the research study and participating.

On behalf of the research team, Drs. Sumeet Sodhi, David Ponka, Bob Mash, Praveen Devarsetty, Marcelo Garcia Dieguez and Felicity Goodyear-Smith, our sincere appreciation.

GP survey

GP survey invitation (overview and instructions):

Questionnaire on psoriasis- Invitation to participate

RACGP fellows are invited to complete this one-minute online questionnaire, in affiliation with the University of Sydney and Western Sydney Local Health District. 

Your responses will be informative as to standard practices of care, which is important for establishing a collective approach to the management of these patients. We strongly encourage you to participate.

Your responses are anonymous and will remain strictly confidential. All information collected will be non-identifiable.

Please submit the survey if you are a RACGP fellow and only once.

Click here to complete the questionnaire. 

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area) - National

Name of investigators

• Contact person and investigator: Dr Belinda Lai (email: belindalai@gmail.com)
• Lead investigator: Dr Annika Smith
• GP investigator: Dr Samuel Der Sarkissian
• Other investigators - Dr Fiona Foo, Associate Professor Peter Wong, Professor Clara Chow, Professor Pablo Fernandez-Peñas

Contact details

• Dr Belinda Lai

We would like to invite paramedics to participate in a study - Palliative Paramedicine: A Qualitative Study of Health Professionals - which is investigating the role of paramedics providing palliative and end-of-life care in the community. Interviews will be conducted with health professionals, families and carers involved in the care of palliative patients who have come into contact with paramedics towards the end of their lives in the community.

You are eligible to participate in this study if you are a general practitioner with experience caring for palliative care patients and their families/carers in the community.

Participation involves completing a very short demographic questionnaire and the interview (maximum 45 minutes). All participants will receive a copy of the preliminary findings. The study has HREC approval from the University of Sydney.

We would really value your thoughts on this topic. If you would like to participate, please email Madeleine Juhrmann, the PhD candidate who will be conducting the interviews (mjuh9730@uni.sydney.edu.au), to receive further information on the study and how to take part. 

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you if you might like to take part.

Concussion Diagnosis and Management: Survey (Curtin University Ethics approval HREC2019-0602)

Crucial information is being sought from RACGP members relating to Diagnosis and Management of Concussion in General Practice.

A pilot study in Western Australia (2021, Thomas et al.) has identified that knowledge surrounding concussion guidelines, diagnosis and management varied across GPs. It was identified that promotion of available concussion guidelines may assist GPs who report a lack in confidence in making a diagnosis of concussion, and that concussion management may be an area where GPs may benefit from additional support and education.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from: This survey has now been extended to include all states and territories in Australia with the aim of identifying if the above findings are supported nationally, or if GPs in different locations have different education and support requirements when diagnosing and managing concussion.

Methods: Electronic survey recruitment through RACGP GP Project Research Notice Board.

GPs will be invited to complete an online survey on their views and practices for concussion diagnosis and management. The responses will be analysed to identify trends in views and practice both nationally and across different geographical regions.

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Name of investigators

Elizabeth Thomas
MBBS (Hons), BSc Hons (First Class), PhD

Gill Cowen
MBBS (Hons), MA(Oxon), FRACGP, MSportMed

Contact details

Dr Gill Cowen
See profile

Closing date for recruitment: 31st March 2022

Time involvement of GPs: Five minutes to complete brief on-line questionnaire

Availability of CPD points: General Practitioners may wish to read the pilot study publication as part of their self-reported CDP.

BMC Family Practice

This 5-10 minute online survey investigates clinicians’ views, knowledge and clinical practice regarding women’s reproductive health care, with a particular focus on the Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) test.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from: Australia-wide. 

Name of investigators / Contact person(s)

Dr Tessa Copp, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Professor Jenny Doust, School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Dr Rachel Thompson, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Professor Kirsten McCaffery, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Dr Karin Hammarberg, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Dr Sarah Lensen, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Dr Michelle Peate, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Professor Ben Mol, Monash University & Dr Devora Lieberman, City Fertility 

Contact details: Tessa Copp & Jenny Doust

Brief description of participants/practices sought: General practitioners and GP registrars practicing in Australia.

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Commencement date of the project: The project started recruiting participants in August 2021. 

Closing date for recruitment: Approx. February 2022 

Time involvement of GPs: 5-10 minutes

Compensation offered: Upon completion of the survey, participants will be given the opportunity to enter a draw to win one of five $100 vouchers.

Availability of CPD points: n/a

Evidence of ethics approval: Yes, the study has been approved by the University of Sydney HREC Project Number 2021/039 (please see ethics approval letter attached). 

Undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in older people and can have serious consequences including severe stroke. Early detection of AF gives patients an opportunity to consider anticoagulation therapy to reduce stroke risk.
 
We are asking GPs to help recruit community-dwelling patients aged >74 years to use a simple handheld single-lead ECG device (Kardia) at home. We train and empower patients to self-record ECG on weekdays over 6 to 12 months. The ECGs are transmitted to a centralised system monitored by a research team at Westmead Hospital NSW. Patients and their GPs will be notified of AF and other clinically significant ECG abnormalities. The entire study is conducted virtually and remotely. Interstate participants are welcome. At present, we have recruited 135 participants and need another 65 participants.
 
Participating GPs will be invited to an interview to explore their views on this screening approach. GPs who complete the interview will receive a $50 gift card. Patient participants are not remunerated.
 
The research team includes GPs Drs. Kam Wong (Kc Wong) and Professor Tim Usherwood, and cardiologist Professor Clara Chow. The investigators have no conflicts of interest. The study is funded by the National Heart Foundation of Australia and ethically approved by the University of Sydney. (Ref: 2020/680).
 
If you are interested in enrolling your patients, please contact kam.wong@sydney.edu.au 
 
Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)
The entire study is conducted virtually and remotely. Interstate participants are welcome.
 
Name of investigators/Contact person. Highlight GP investigators
Dr Kam Wong (GP, PhD candidate) under supervision of PhD supervisors (Professor Clara Chow, cardiologist) and Professor Tim Usherwood (Professor of general practice) 
 
Contact details
Dr Kam Wong
 
Brief Description of participants/practices sought
Interstate GPs and patient participants are sought.

• community-dwelling people aged ≥75 years 
• have a smartphone 
• be able to understand instructions in English.

Patient participant exclusion criteria: 

• previously confirmed diagnosis of AF 
• having an implantable cardiac monitor, pacemaker, or defibrillator 
• dementia 
• inability to provide informed consent 
• with a medical illness with anticipated life expectancy < 3 months. 

 
Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients
Disseminating flyers opportunistically 
 
Clinical trial registration if applicable
ANZ Clinical Trial Register ACTRN12621000184875 

Researchers at the University of Sydney/Bond University are inviting GPs to take part in a research study aiming to codesign a new model of care for prostate cancer screening and discuss options for informed testing.

If you are a GP working in Australia and interested in participating in a 30-minute interview, conducted on Zoom or telephone, then please complete the Expression of Interest form and return it to kristen.pickles@sydney.edu.au.

We will be asking for your views on two decision aids for PSA test screening and seeking your views on recent developments that might impact how prostate cancer screening is conducted. You will be reimbursed $150 for your time.

EOI form

We aim to assess general practitioners’ (GPs') use of thromboprophylaxis guidelines in the management of patients with AF and their reasons for not using thromboprophylaxis guidelines. We also aim to assess the weight of different factors in GPs' thromboprophylaxis decision-making process in patients with AF within the Australian general practice settings. We are conducting an online survey among GPs practising in general practices in Australia. The study was approved by the University of Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee (RA/4/20/6366). 

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)

Across all States and Territories in Australia 

Name of investigators

Eyob Alemayehu Gebreyohannes, Dr Sandra M Salter, Dr Leanne Chalmers, A/Prof Jan Radford, Dr Kenneth Lee 

Contact details

eyob.gebreyohannes@research.uwa.edu.au

To take part in the survey, participants have to be GPs, practice in a general practice setting in Australia, and consent to take part in the survey.

Online survey

Time involvement of GPs

5-10 minutes

This research project is looking for study participants. If you are a general practitioner in Australia you can assist.

In Australia, smoking tobacco remains the largest cause of preventable illness, disability and premature death. Health professionals continue to smoke and this is a global phenomenon. However, we do not have information on smoking behaviour of the general practitioners in Australia, also their perceptions on smoking cessation by their patients and use of smoking cessation guidelines in GP practice settings. The project has been approved by Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) at Federation University Australia (Ethics approval for Project: 21-110 A). Findings from this study will assist in smoking cessation initiatives, and may direct tailoring effective smoking cessation approaches.

It is a completely anonymous and voluntary online survey. If you are interested, please access study questionnaire below.

Study questionnaire

If you have any questions regarding this study, please contact the Principal Researcher of this project:

Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Aziz Rahman

Research has shown that the best place for early detection of eating disorders is in General Practice. InsideOut is recruiting GPs in the community who may be interested in learning more about eating disorders. Involvement in this study will involve answering a series of questions before and after participating in an eating disorder microlearning program developed by InsideOut. Microlearning is a form of e-learning that is delivered online in short (~5min) case studies (or vignettes) and allows learning to be spaced over a 6-10-week period (total participation time ~1.5hr). Participation in the study is entirely voluntary and your choice to be involved will not have any bearing on the relationship between you and the researchers, or, you and InsideOut.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area)

Australia wide.

Name of investigators

Phillip Aouad
Emma Bryant
Sally Corry
Veronica Gonzalez-Arce
Anna Janssen
Sarah Maguire
Dr Karen Spielman
Rachel Simeone
Tim Shaw

 

Contact details

Phillip Aouad
Email: phillip.aouad@sydney.edu.au

Brief Description of participants/practices sought (inclusion and exclusion criteria, or a hyperlink to this)

Any GP or GP registrar fitting the below criteria.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

• Able to speak, read, and understand English 
• General practitioner eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) 
• Have a valid, in use and accessible email address; as well as access to a computer, mobile or tablet device, with a reliable internet connection 
• Have not started or completed the “InsideOut Institute The Essentials: Training Clinicians in Eating Disorders” and “National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC) Eating Disorder Core Skills: eLearning for GPs” program prior to participation and are willing to refrain from completing it during the current study. 

 

Participation sheet

 

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients

Microlearning is a form of e-learning that is delivered online in short (~5min) case studies (or vignettes) and allows learning to be spaced over a 6-10-week period (total participation time ~1.5hr)

Compensation offered

As a token of gratitude for completing the study, you will be given access to the InsideOut eLearning Program “The Essentials: Training Clinicians in Eating Disorders” for either your own use or use for by someone in your practice.