RACGP GP Research Project Noticeboard

Australian women living in rural and regional areas have higher rates of unintended pregnancies and face difficulties accessing long acting reversible contraception (LARC), such as intrauterine devices and implants, and early medical abortion (EMA). The ORIENT study will test the effectiveness of a collaborative nurse-led model of care in general practice, involving optimal use of clinical upskilling, GP-nurse task sharing and telehealth services to increase access to LARC and EMA for women living in rural and regional Australia.  Participating general practices will be encouraged and supported to deliver the nurse-led model of LARC and EMA care with the assistance of an implementation bundle targeted to GPs and practice nurses.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area) -  Practices must be located in rural or regional Australia. MMM2-MMM7 on the Monash Modified Model 

Name of investigators/Contact person. Professor Danielle Mazza

Contact details - Dr Jessica Botfield  orient.trial@monash.edu 

Survey - https://www.spherecre.org/the-orient-study

Brief Description of participants/practices sought (inclusion and exclusion criteria -  We are recruiting general practices located in regional and rural Australia. To be eligible to participate in the ORIENT study, your general practice must have at least two GPs and a practice nurse willing to participate in the study, and a practice manager who will serve as the study liaison.

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients:  The time commitment to complete the implementation activities to support the delivery of the nurse led model will be around 3 hours of online education, completion of contraceptive implant training on insertion and removal (if not previously undertaken) and 1-hour educational outreach with clinical experts. The practice manager will be involved in the educational outreach session.

Compensation offered -  GPs and staff nurses who enrol in the trial and complete all necessary components of the intervention bundle will be financially compensated for their time. Specifically, GPs will receive $500 and PNs will receive $200 upon confirmation that they have completed all training components and participated in the educational outreach session. Practice managers will receive a $100 gift card for their participation in educational outreach and for serving as the study liaison. Separately, at the end of the trial, each participating practice will receive a single reimbursement of $500 for administrative time needed to provide access to data for assessment of trial outcomes

Availability of CPD points - participants will receive CPD points/hours for participation in education components

Are you a registered GP in Australia? Macquarie University is looking for GPs to complete an interactive survey.

Help us design the future of primary care consultation and explore new ways to manage clinical texts in general practice. In this study, we present GPs’ several modes of interacting with an automated Electronic Health Record system. To do this, we request your participation in an online survey that will take 15-20 minutes. As a token of appreciation for your participation, you will be offered a $50 voucher. No prior technical knowledge is required.

If you are interested please visit this link to start the survey: magp.snap-ai.org

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

Australia-wide

Name of investigators/Contact person.

David Fraile Navarro (GP, Spain-UK), Baki Kocaballi, Kiran Ijaz, Mark Dras, Shlomo Berkovsky

Contact details

David Fraile Navarro david.frailenavarro@hdr.mq.edu.au

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

Australian-based clinically practising GPs

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients
15-20 minutes

Compensation offered
Yes $50 evoucher

Availability of CPD points
No

We would like to invite you to participate in a survey and share one story about challenging or difficult feedback that you received while working in a medical setting. By telling your story, you can enter a prize draw to win one of five $200 Visa gift cards.

You are eligible if you are:

• 1. A medical doctor registered in Australia and New Zealand; AND
• 2. Have worked in a clinical role

Contact: Associate Professor Leonie Griffiths - leonieg@unimelb.edu.au

The survey should take between 10-15 minutes.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please click here

Did you know that an estimated 2 million Australians live with a rare disease? Despite variation among different rare diseases, people living with a rare disease face common challenges including a lack of awareness and timely and accurate diagnosis as highlighted in the National Strategic Action Plan for Rare Diseases. There are common approaches to diagnosis and management.

The Rare Disease Awareness Education Support and Training (RArEST) Project is a partnership between the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Rare Voices Australia, the University of Western Australia and Macquarie University.

The RArEST team is developing a range of resources to support health care professionals in coordinating comprehensive, family-centered care for chronic and complex patients with rare diseases and their families. In particular, we will soon be launching a rare disease ProjectECHO—a free real-time, case-based virtual community of rare disease practice to support multidisciplinary health professionals as well as Rare Disease 101 Australia, an e-learning module.

To enable us to deliver resources that are most helpful for health professionals, we want to hear from you about your experiences delivering rare disease care and any learning needs. You are invited to complete a short anonymous survey. The survey will be open until 25th August 2022.

Contact: Dr Libby Lissiman - rarest@unsw.edu.au

Our research project currently aims to assess 5 different health practitioners (General Practitioners, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Allergists and Pharmacists) diagnostic, treatment and collaborative care knowledge and practices surrounding Ocular Allergy. This is conducted via the use of a survey which has been validated by General Practitioners, Paediatrician, Ocular Allergy Researchers, Pharmacists, Allergists and Ophthalmologists.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area): All of Australia (all states and territories).

Name of investigators: Mrs Ereeny Mikhail, Associate Professor Cenk Suphioglu, Dr Moneisha Gokhale, Dr Serap Azizoglu, and Dr Mohammadreza Mohebbi

Contact details (Name, email address, website link): Ereeny Mikhail (emikhail@deakin.edu.au), or A/Prof Cenk Suphioglu (cenk.suphioglu@deakin.edu.au) 

Brief Description of participants/practices sought (inclusion and exclusion criteria,  or a hyperlink to this): Inclusion Criteria: General Practitioners who are AHPRA registered and practicing in Australia. Exclusion Criteria: General Practitioners who are not fully qualified (i.e. students, interns, residents, registrars, and/or in training).

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patient: 25 Minutes - can be completed from comfort of phone or laptop. 

Survey: The survey can be found here
 

Skin problems are a common presentation to Australian general practitioners. However, historically general practitioners have received minimal training on skin problems. The aim of this study is to explore general practitioner confidence in the identification and management of a range of skin problems that would present in practice.  The study will also explore the skin problems that general practitioners would like more education on and whether there are differences in education needs based on the type of skin problems.  The results of the study will help to design education programs for Australian General Practitioners to improve the diagnosis and management of skin problems.

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

What does this research involve?

Participants will be asked to answer an anonymous on-line Qualtrics survey that will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. 

Contact details: Dr Anneliese Willems awillems@skinhealthinstitute.org.au, +61 3 9623 9400). 

Survey: https://scuau.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6ExxNlGtzfcVNky

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients - GP and GP registrar participants - 7-10 minutes to complete
 

In this qualitative study, we are seeking general practitioners, general practice nurses and general practice managers to participate in interview via telephone or virtual meeting. The interview will seek to understand participants’ attitudes and practices regarding the promotion of healthy childhood growth and development and the prevention of childhood obesity in general practice in Australia and identify practical barriers and enablers to routinely incorporating this into a GP’s clinical practice. Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC) project ID: 30016 

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area): All Australian states and territories

Name of investigators: Dr Michelle Gooey, Dr Liz Sturgiss, Dr Heidi Bergmeier and Professor Helen Skouteris

Contact details: Please contact Dr Michelle Gooey (michelle.gooey@monash.edu) to participate or if you would like further details

Brief Description of participants/practices sought: We are seeking to interview general practice staff members (general practitioners, general practice managers and general practice nurses) who work in a general practice in Australia and see children as part of their clinical practice.

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff: An interview with an expected duration of 30 - 45 minutes (possibly up to 60 minutes)

 
 

The study will be conducted in general practice clinics in metropolitan Melbourne, in areas with rates of refugee resettlement and migrant communities. Sample size will range between 10-12 GPs. Interviews expected to last between 30-60 minutes and via zoom, at a time of participant's convenience. Participants will be offered a $100 honoraria in recognition of the time required to participate in the study. In-depth qualitative data will be collected using semi-structured interviews with GPs. All interviews were aided by interview guidelines aligned to components of the Access to Care Framework by Levesque and colleagues. Question sequencing is flexible, allowing participant responses to guide the course of the interview. Audio files of interviews with participants will be de-identified and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts, and facilitator diaries were exported to Nvivo for analysis.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from: Melbourne, Victoria

Name of investigators/Contact person. Contact person: Areni Altun, Dr Liz Sturgiss, Prof Grant Russell

Contact details:

• Areni Altun
• areni.altun@monash.edu
• Website Link: https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0jFYefSWtIBg1HE

Brief Description of participants/practices sought: GP Participants practicing clinically in Victoria who treat/manage migrant or refugee women. 

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients: 30-60minutes

Compensation offered: Yes: $100 Coles Voucher

Will you be starting your patient on an antidepressant? If so, this study may be of benefit to you and your patient. 

The ALIGNED study is an investigator-initiated, randomised-controlled trial of pharmacogenomics-guided therapy versus standard care for people with moderate to severe depression. Pharmacogenomics (PG) is the study of how genetic variations affect an individual’s likely response to therapeutic medications.
 
Study participants are randomised to either the pharmacogenomics-guided intervention arm or a standard care (control) arm. The prescribing doctors (GPs) of all participants are provided with a treatment guide to inform prescription of antidepressant therapy. Prescribers in the intervention arm will receive a treatment guide informed by their patient’s pharmacogenomic analysis, whereas prescribers in the control arm will receive a treatment guide in line with best practice (not informed by their patient’s pharmacogenomics). 

The ALIGNED study is double-blind, with both prescribing doctors and participants blinded to treatment allocation. At week 12 of the study, unblinding will take place, where both prescribing doctors and participants will be informed of treatment allocation. All prescribing doctors of participants will then receive a direct copy of the participant’s pharmacogenomic report issued by a NATA-accredited laboratory. The report contains pharmacogenomics information for psychotropic as well as other medications that can be used in the future. 
 

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area): Participants will be recruited from the following states in Australia: NSW, VIC, WA, SA and QLD.

 

Name of investigators/Contact person. Highlight GP investigators:
Lead Investigator: Associate Professor Kathy Wu, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Principal Investigator: Professor Paul Fitzgerald, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Principal Investigator: Professor Anthony Rodgers, The George Institute for Global Health, Australia
Principal Investigator: Professor Sean Hood, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Principal Investigator: Professor Anthony Harris, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
GP Principal Investigator: Professor Tim Usherwood, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
GP Principal Investigator: Dr Jacquie Garton-Smith, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia

 

Contact details: Dr Rachel McGrath, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Australia. Telephone: +61 2 8052 4597; Email: ALIGNED@georgeinstitute.org.au

 
Website link: www.alignedstudy.org.au  
 

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

 

ALIGNED Participant Eligibility Criteria: 

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 18 and 70 years (inclusive)
• Sufficiently fluent in English
• Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, either first-episode or relapsed, on the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 criteria
• A moderate to severe level of depression as rated on the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) with a score of > 19 at baseline
• Person in whom antidepressants are indicated based on the current ANZ guideline but are yet to be initiated during current episode
• Willing and able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Already taking an antidepressant
• Significant suicidal risk (as determined during screening MADRS and DSM-5 MINI assessments)
• Substance use disorder not in remission (other than nicotine or caffeine) (as determined during screening DSM-5 MINI assessments)
• Concurrent psychiatric diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder (psychotic MDD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder), or cognitive disorders (intellectual impairment/dementia) (determined by participant medical history or during screening DSM-5 MINI assessment)
• Current history of hepatic or renal failure confounding drug metabolism
• Contraindication, including hypersensitivity (e.g. anaphylaxis), to SSRI, SNRI, mirtazapine and moclobemide.
• Pregnant or breast feeding 

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients: Study participants will attend 11 remote (telephone or videoconference) study sessions with the ALIGNED study coordinator, carried out over 52 weeks. Participants will be required to see their GP (treating clinician) for initiation of antidepressant therapy and to attend routine follow-up visits with their GP to monitor their treatment response.

The START trial is a NHMRC-funded community-based clinical trial that will evaluate the comparative effects of the Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin compared to metformin, on annual decline in eGFR, when used as first-line therapy in people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. The intervention will be evaluated by a pragmatic, multi-centre, double-blind, randomised trial involving at least 60 primary health care practices across NSW and VIC. The sample size of 994 participants (497 intervention and 497 control groups) will detect a difference in eGRF slope between dapagliflozin and metformin over a 24-month period. Changes in urine albumin creatinine ratio, serum creatinine, HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body weight, quality of life and anxiety and depression will be monitored. 

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area): Sydney and surrounds, Melbourne and surrounds 

Name of investigators/Contact person.
Lead Investigator: Professor Bruce Neal, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia
Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Clare Arnott, The George Institute for Global Health, Australia
Principal Investigator: Professor Sophia Zoungas, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
GP Principal Investigator: Professor Tim Usherwood, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

 

Contact details: Dr Lauren Houston, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia.
Telephone: +61 2 8052 4343
Email: START-trial@georgeinstitute.org.au

 

Brief Description of participants/practices sought (inclusion and exclusion criteria, or a hyperlink to this): GP Practices based in Sydney and surrounds or Melbourne and surrounds who can assist START trial staff to identify potentially eligible participants from their GP Practice who meet the following eligibility criteria:

 
Inclusion criteria:

• Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes within the last 4 years;
• Aged ≥18 years;
• Body mass index between 18.5 and 45 kg/m2;
• Drug naïve, or managed with metformin monotherapy and willing to be randomised;
• eGFR ≥30 ml/min/1.73m2; and
• Signed informed consent. 

Exclusion criteria:

• Immediate need for rapid intensification of glucose lowering therapy due to marked hyperglycaemia;
• There is a definite indication for, or contraindication to, either metformin or SGLT2 inhibitor;
• Established coronary artery disease or heart failure; or
• Pregnant or breast-feed

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients: The role of your GP practice in the START Trial is minimal. The GP practice/GPs main trial responsibilities include assisting START trial staff to identify potential participants and to confirm their patients are suitable to participate in the START trial. Trial participants will attend follow-up visits every 16-20 weeks: four face-to-face and five telephone or video conference visits over a period of approximately 2 years. 

Compensation offered: $150 per randomised participant to support administrative costs at GP Practice. 

Availability of CPD points: GPs can self-record their participation in START as a GP Co-Investigator as a CPD activity and claim 2 CPD points per hour for participating in resea

This study aims to gather insights from Australian health professionals, primarily those working in Australian General Practices, about their confidence in treating patients affected by rare disease, and their training and/or support needs. This survey will inform the development of resources and professional development, including an online community of practice for rare disease.

Name of investigators:

• Dr Elizabeth (Emma) Palmer, MBBS PhD FRACP, RArEST Chief Investigator
• Prof Adam Jaffe
• Prof Gareth Baynam
• A/Prof Michelle Farrar
• A/Prof Yvonne Zurynski
• A/Prof Chinthaka Balasooriya
• Dr Lauren McKnight
• Dr Brett Biles
• Dr Amy Nisselle
• Ms Nada Mirkovic
• Ms Nicole Millis
• Ms Louise Healy
• Dr Chun Wah Michael Tam (GP)
• Dr Elizabeth (Libby) Lissiman (GP)

Contact person: Ms Nada Mirkovic n.mirkovic@unsw.edu.au

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

Inclusion: Participants.

• general practitioners,
• practice nurses,
• allied health practitioners,
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
• other nursing,

In all Australian general practices

Other survey participants include (nil expectation for RACGP support):

• Medical specialists
• Other nursing staff
• Education (eg: teachers, counsellors)
• Patient Advocacy groups/representatives
• Disability services staff
• Social services staff

Exclusion: services with a visiting GP providing a specific service (such as community dosing clinics or sexual health clinics) where the primary service is not general practice

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients: Participation in a 15-minute online survey by GPs and/or practice nurses and /or allied health practitioners and/or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers. Nil patient involvement

Compensation offered: Nil compensation for involvement in the survey. Should a GP wish to be involved in the research, please contact Nada.

The Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) would like to know how GPs feel about HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and some of the barriers to prescribing PrEP, to help create training and educational opportunities.   

Survey

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area) All states within Australia. 

Name of investigators/Contact person
GP investigator: Jason Wu (contact person)
ason Ong (MSHC), Eric Chow (MSHC).  

Contact details  -Jason Wu – Email: jasun_quo@hotmail.com, https://kingsparkmedical.com.au/

Brief Description of participants/practices sought
General practitioners in all states of Australia who are currently actively practising.  

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients – 8 minutes 

Compensation offered Participants in this study may choose to be entered into a draw to win one of five $300 Coles-Myer gift vouchers.  

The aim of the study is to identify gaps in doctors’ and medical students’ knowledge and skills around non-sexual boundary crossings and impacts on patient care, mental health, and wellbeing. Doctors and students in Australia who decide to complete a 15–20-minute anonymous online survey will be asked to provide demographic information, complete questionnaires measuring anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, and wellbeing (Maslach Burnout Inventory, Satisfaction With Life Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and answer questions relating to vignettes illustrating potential professional boundary challenges and training needs. At the end of the survey, participants will be able to read professional commentary about the vignettes.

 

Contact: A/Prof Lisa Lampe

Phone: 02 4033 9631

Email: lisa.lampe@newcastle.edu.au

If you would like to participate or learn more, please visit: www.boundariesresearch.com.au.

 

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.

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.

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)

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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

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

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

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. 

Researchers within the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University are pursuing GPs to participate in a new study that aims to co-design a post-fracture care pathway for the primary care setting that will enhance detection of osteoporosis in older adults and improve adherence to fracture prevention strategies.

We are seeking GPs to take part in a semi-structured interview to elucidate information regarding their current clinical practices and experiences with osteoporosis treatment/secondary fracture prevention. The interviews will explore GP views about selection of osteoporosis medicines and use of different treatments; beliefs and perceived role in secondary fracture prevention; and potential barriers and enablers to the implementation of a post-fracture care pathway in their clinics. This study has received Deakin University ethics approval (Project ID: HEAG-H 56_2022) and is funded by an Amgen & Healthy Bones Australia grant.

Brief Description of participants sought: GPs who are currently actively practicing in a metropolitan-based clinic and have treated several older patients (aged >50 years) with osteoporosis or fractures in the previous 5 years.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from (State/Area): All states within Australia.

Time involvement of GPs: 30-minute interview conducted in-person, via telephone, or via video-conferencing (Zoom).

Compensation Offered: GPs will be offered a $25 Coles Myer gift card as a thank-you gesture for their participation.

Name of investigators: Dr Jason Talevski; Prof Robin Daly; A/Prof Alison Beauchamp

Contact details: If you are interested in participating in this study or have a colleague that might be interested, please contact Dr Jason Talevski at j.talevski@deakin.edu.au or (03) 9244 5116.

Researchers at UTS are seeking your participation in a study exploring Health professionals’ preconception health literacy, and beliefs and attitudes towards preconception care.

The online survey will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes of your time. Participants will be invited to share their awareness of modifiable preconception risks and health behaviours, their perspectives, and experiences regarding information-seeking for preconception health information, and their perceptions regarding the ideal delivery of preconception care services.

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

Name of investigators: Dr Amie Steel, Cherie Caut, Dr Erica McIntyre, Dr Danielle Schoenaker, Dwan Vilcins, Dr Anna Gavine

Contact person: Cheris Caut - cherie.d.caut@student.uts.edu.au

Survey: https://utsau.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0pPNNdnk8GPH2iG

We thank you for taking the time to consider participating in this study. We are offering a prize draw of one of three $200.00 gift vouchers for completing our survey.