RACGP GP Research Project Noticeboard

This multiphase, multidisciplinary research project is aimed at investigating how pharmacogenetics testing can be used and potentially implemented in patients, specifically young adults (18-24) with mental health disorders.

In this qualitative phase of the research project we are looking for participation from General Practitioners who are passionate about improving youth mental health outcomes. The research will involve participation in focus groups and case study discussions that are conducted online or at a pre-specified location, either at the QEII Medical Centre or UWA campus. The case study discussion designed by Professor Sean Hood is aimed at exploring the role of pharmacogenetics testing in improving youth mental health outcomes in the primary care setting.

The focus groups will be recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results from the research project will be disseminated through presentation at scientific and medical conferences, and submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals.

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Zahra Cooper zahra.cooper@perron.uwa.edu.au.

Geographic location the project wished to recruit from:
Western Australia

Principal Investigators:
Prof. Sean Hood;
Prof Anthony Akkari;
Assoc. Prof Jennifer Rodger

Brief description of participants sought:
Inclusion criteria is GPs in Western Australia with experience and/or interest in treating youth mental health disorders.

Commencement date of project:
ASAP

Closing date for recruitment:
August 2023

Time involved:
Participation in a single focus group discussion (approx. 1-2 hours)

Compensation:
$100 voucher and certificate of participation in research

Women with gestational diabetes have an approximately 10-fold higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with normal blood sugar levels in pregnancy. Post-pregnancy blood sugar level screening and type 2 diabetes prevention programs are feasible in general practice settings, however further research is needed to improve reach and engagement.

In 2011, Australia started a National Gestational Diabetes Register (NGDR) to improve diabetes risk awareness, screening and prevention. Researchers at the University of Melbourne Department of General Practice and Primary care are investigating if recall and screening of women at risk of type 2 diabetes is improved by linking the NGDR and GP Electronic Medical Record (EMR, e.g. Best Practice Software). This project aims to guide the implementation of this linked NGDR-EMR system. We aim to understand the General Practice perspectives on this linked register system with regard to utility, feasibility and acceptability.

Participants sought:
General Practitioners, practice nurses, practice managers and diabetes educators with experience caring for patients with gestational diabetes are invited to share their perspectives on data-linkage for diabetes prevention.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from:
Australia

Compensation offered:
Participants will receive a $50 thank you voucher.

Time involvement:
30 minutes

Investigators:
Dr Rochelle Sleaby
Dr Rachel Canaway
A/Prof Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis
Prof Dougie Boyle

Contact person:
Dr Rochelle Sleaby
Email: sleabyr@unimelb.edu.au
Tel: 0439 368 603
Website: https://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/school-structure/general-practice-and-primary-care/news-and-events/seeking-general-practice-perspectives-on-data-linkage-for-diabetes-prevention

Commencement date of the project:
May 2023

Closing date for recruitment:
August 2023

This qualitative study will be performed through semi-structured interviews with  Melbourne based GPs. They will loosely follow an interview guide questioning GP experiences navigating mental health care for their Child and Adolescent patients. We expect each interview to last roughly 45 minutes and can be held in person or via skype. This will be complemented by additional interviews with key informants having expertise in the area. The audio-recorded interviews will be transcribed, coded and thematically analysed then written up for publication and an honours thesis. More details can be found within this explanatory statement.

Brief Description of participants sought: Inclusion criteria is individual GPs in Melbourne that see child and adolescent patients

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

Principal investigator: Prof. Grant Russell, grant.russell@monash.edu

Associate investigator & contact person: Ms. Jade Guitera, jgui0007@student.monash.edu

Commencement date of the project: 10/05/2023

Closing date for recruitment: 1/08/2023

Time involvement: 45 minutes

Availability of CPD points: None available

Compensation offered: $75.00

The aim of this study is to undertake a formative evaluation to assess the need, feasibility and acceptability of a peer-facilitated, online, perinatal education and support program for first-time fathers referred through their primary health care providers. There is a growing need for new approaches to providing information and support to first-time fathers. According to recent research, first-time fathers report wanting programs that are informative but also allow them to interact with other men about their experiences with fatherhood. There are significant barriers that men face in accessing services during pregnancy and soon after the birth (e.g., men are often unable to attend programs during work hours) and access to an online platform may help address these barriers. In addition, the role that primary care providers such as GPs can play in referring first-time fathers to such programs is not adequately described in the literature. The first phase of the project comprises a mixed methods approach to assess the attitudes and current practice of health professionals with regard to father inclusive perinatal care and elicit their opinions about the proposed online perinatal program.

An introduction to the research team, the project and further links to participate can be found at: https://curtin.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d1iFwnLlKcXw9wO

State the project wishes to recruit from

• National for anonymous online survey
• Western Australia and Queensland for confidential interview

Name of investigators/Contact persons
Richard Pascal (contact), Dr Garth Kendall, Dr Lesley Kuliukas, A/Prof Alka Kothari, Dr Rikki Priest (GP investigator)

Contact details
Richard Pascal, richard.pascal@postgrad.curtin.edu.au

Brief Description of participants sought
All GPs working with fathers or their partners in the perinatal period (antenatal to 12 months postnatal).

Commencement date of the project
7 April 2023

Closing date for recruitment
30 November 2023

Time involvement of GPs and/or practice staff, and/or patients
GPs nationally completing the online survey – 15-20 minutes. GPs in WA and Qld completing the online interview – 30-40 minutes.

 

We invite persons working in general practice or community care, especially clinicians who consult with pregnant women or women planning pregnancy, to spend a few minutes reviewing draft recommendations related to the development of a clinical decision support tool for integration with clinical software systems. We welcome short or long feedback via the survey link: 

 

Survey

 

This consultation is part of a feasibility study being undertaken by researchers at the University of Melbourne’s Department of General Practice. The work sits within the National Awareness Campaign for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Women (the Campaign) which is endorsed and funded by the Australian Government and being delivered by the Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education’s (FARE). The Campaign aims to increase Australians’ awareness of the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This study is with the Campaign stream that seeks to develop resources and training for health professionals.

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

Australia-wide.

Name of investigators/Contact person. Highlight GP investigators

Professor Kelsey Hegarty (Academic GP), Dr Libby Dai (GP), Professor Douglas Boyle, Dr Rachel Canaway

Enquiries email: antenatal-screen@unimelb.edu.au

Eligibility criteria

Anyone working in general practice or community care settings, especially those who consult with pregnant women or women planning pregnancy;
AND, aged 18 years or older;
AND working in Australia.

Commencement date of the project

27th April 2023

Closing date for recruitment

17th May 2023

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

Minimal. Review of the recommendations can be completed in a few minutes, or longer if you wish to provide detailed feedback.

Compensation offered

None available

Availability of CPD points

Participants can self-log for CPD hours

Direct survey link: 

https://melbourneuni.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bx6D7UMRmZnhIyi

The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of general practitioners when treating fellow doctors as patients, including how you feel about seeing doctor-patients, what you find challenging about this, and whether you view and treat doctor-patients differently to other patients. We are inviting you to participate in a semi-structured interview, which we estimate will take 45-60 minutes. It will be audio-recorded, and you can participate either face-to-face or by Zoom. You will then be sent a copy of the transcribed interview, for you to have an opportunity to make amendments or add additional information, should you wish to do so.

Consenting to participate in the project and withdrawing from the research
This statement provides you with information about what participation in this project involves. You are given the opportunity to ask questions, either by phone or by email, and have them answered. You will have received the Consent form with this Explanatory Letter. You can withdraw at any point up until you have confirmed the transcript of your interview. You do not have to answer any question you do not wish to.

If you agree to participate, please do the following:

• You can sign and scan the Consent form and return it to us, or give to us at the time of your interview
• Contact Claire Hutton by email to discuss a suitable time and location - Claire.hutton1@monash.edu or 0419 578 060

Possible benefits and risks to participants
Although there are no direct benefits to you from participating, we hope this research will increase understanding of the challenges of treating fellow doctors and contribute to improving the quality of doctors' health care.

As the interview questions relate to your experiences when treating fellow doctors, it may be that issues are raised for you in terms of how you have treated fellow doctors in the past, or indeed about the treatment you have received as a patient. If you are adversely affected, please contact AMA((Vic) Peer Support (an anonymous telephone service available to all medical practitioners) on 1300 853 338.

Compensation Offered
GPs who participate will receive a $150 gift voucher in recognition of their time.
The names of participants who opt to receive a gift voucher may need to be provided to the Monash University finance team for auditing purposes.

Childhood obesity is a prevalent health concern that impacts children’s physical, social and mental well-being. While various childhood obesity guidelines and resources have become available in recent years, their frequency of utilisation and applicability in the general practice setting is unknown. This is study is an online survey investigating Australian GP’s current childhood obesity management practices, as well as perspectives on common barriers and enablers to management.

Results from this study may help guide recommendations to improve awareness of and effective clinical application of currently resources and contribute towards a more unified approach to managing childhood obesity in general practice
 

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

All states and territories
 

Name of investigators/Contact person.

• Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Habib Bhurawala
• Co-Investigator: Dr Anita Munoz (Chair of the Victoria Council, RACGP)
• Co-Investigator: Dr Gary Leong
• Co-Investigator: Dr Jasveen Kaur

 

Contact details (Name, email address, website link)

Dr. Habib Bhurawala                                                            Dr. Jasveen Kaur 

E: habib.bhurawala@health.nsw.gov.au                              E: Jasveen.kaur@health.nsw.gov.au

  

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

Any Australian registered GPs or GP registrars (working across Australia) will be eligible to participate in this study.

 

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

15 minutes

 

Survey - https://qars.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/Survey?p=07114547  

Researchers at UNSW are conducting a project about which factors were unique to patients requiring additional time away from work after a COVID-19 infection and what the average recovery time required to return to work after an infection is.

The research project is looking for people who want to take part in this research and who are adults (over 18 years old) working in NSW, inclusive of full-time, part-time, and casual workers who had been infected with COVID-19 after 1st of July 2021.

Participation in this research is optional, confidential (de-identified) and voluntary.

Survey - Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

Assessment of the effectiveness of the Defeat Diabetes Application (DDA) low carbohydrate diet and lifestyle intervention, in the self-management of type 2 diabetes.

Short description of the project and method

Our aim is to examine the effect of the Defeat Diabetes program on the clinical features of type 2 diabetes (fasting blood glucose and HbA1c), in a community-based participant cohort over a 12 month period.

The potential significance of this research project is that it may provide an adjunct modality to support the current management of T2D by the broader healthcare community.

The intervention requires participants to follow the recommendations outlined in the Defeat Diabetes program to make dietary and lifestyle changes over a 12-month period. The Defeat Diabetes program is a subscription based commercial app and web interface that provides guided education on how a low carbohydrate diet can help manage type 2 diabetes. This study relies heavily on the involvement of community-based GPs to refer patients, collect and review data in line with the RACGP clinical practice guidelines for management of type 2 diabetes at baseline, 3, 6 and 12-months. GPs will be provided with educational material on the use of low carbohydrate diets for managing type 2 diabetes, including information on how to safely deprescribe medications. They can also elect to attend GP led online education sessions, that will be conducted throughout the study period for further support.

The research team will provide supporting GPs with patient handouts for distribution to eligible patients, to assist with the recruitment process. The research team will coordinate patient appointments and data collection at the appropriate time points. Data management and collection will be via REDCap ensuring confidentiality of patient and GP information, informed consent to release health information will be obtained from participants. The research team have consulted with a small focus group of GPs to try to make data collection and reporting as simple as possible.

Supporting GPs and their nominated RN and/or practice manager will receive lifetime access to the Defeat Diabetes app.

For further information please see : https://redcap.link/defeatdiabetes_gp

 

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

Australia Wide

 

Name of investigators/Contact person. Highlight GP investigators.

Principal Investigator: Prof. George Moschonis, School of Allied Health, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University

Co – Investigator: Prof. Peter Brukner, School of Allied Health, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University

Co – Investigator: A/Prof. Adrienne Forsyth, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University and School of Allied Health, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University

GP Principal Investigator: Dr Liz Fraser, Co-ordinator of GP group research activity, Hobart Place General Practice, Canberra 

GP External Advisory Committee: Dr Ronald Schweitzer – Senior Lecturer, Monash University and GP, East Bentleigh Medical Group, Bentleigh East, VIC; Dr Avi Charlton - GP, Wantirna Mall Clinic, Melbourne Low Carb Clinic, Wantirna, VIC; Dr Derrick Bui - GP, Town Medical Centre, Melbourne, VIC

PhD Candidate: Despina Kolivas, School of Allied Health, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University

 

Contact details (Name, email address, website link)

Despina Kolivas

Email: d.kolivas@latrobe.edu.au

Prof George Moschonis

Email: g.moschonis@latrobe.edu.au

 

Expression of Interest and support: https://redcap.link/defeatdiabetes_gp

 

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

Recruitment of 100 participants with type 2 diabetes, via referral from their GP, meeting the eligibility criteria below:

Inclusion criteria

• Adults (men and women) meeting the clinical diagnostic criteria for type 2 diabetes
• Willingness to participate (i.e. adopt a low carbohydrate diet and make necessary lifestyle changes as detailed in the app) and be available throughout the study period of 12 months
• Be willing to attend general practitioner appointments at 3, 6 and 12 months
• Not currently using the Defeat Diabetes app, nor using a low carbohydrate diet to manage their type 2 diabetes
• Have a smartphone and can use digital technology (download and install digital applications)

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to understand written and spoken English
• Liver disease (other than metabolic associated fatty liver disease) or secondary causes of MAFLD and cirrhosis
• Renal failure and patients undertaking dialysis
• Have a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
• Are pregnant
• Are using insulin to manage their type 2 diabetes
• Excluded from participating for existing medical conditions at the discretion of their GP

 

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

The time involved for supporting GPs to participate and is outlined in the attached excel template, and was designed to allocate hours for CPD.

The role of the GP practice staff is minimal.

Participants will need to see their GP for medical management for type 2 diabetes in line with RACGP Type 2 Diabetes management guidelines. Participants will need to complete health questionnaires (15 mins) and complete 3 day food records (30 mins) at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months.

The intervention requires participants to follow the recommendations outlined in the Defeat Diabetes program to make dietary and lifestyle changes over a 12-month period.

 

Availability of CPD points

Yes for 2023-2025 Triennium (as advised by RACGP Kathryn Randall, CPD Program Coordinator)

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

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.

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)

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

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

Access survey 

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