RACGP GP Research Project Noticeboard

Researchers at Bond University and partnering universities are running a study to provide General Practitioners working in rural and regional Australia (MMM2 and over) access to a digital CBTi referral pathway. CBTi is the recommended ‘first line’ treatment for long term insomnia but access is currently not available for many Australians, particularly those living in rural and regional areas.

The Research and Evaluation Study of digital Treatment of insomnia in Underserved Populations (Rest Up) study is supported by Medical Research Future Fund. Participating practices will be reimbursed $100 per patient recruited for administrative support and time required to identify and recruit participating patients (target 15 per practice). In addition, a ‘practice champion’ gift voucher valued at $200 will be provided to the primary contact person within the practice who supports the management and administration of the research project.

Eligible patients will receive free access to a 5-session digital CBTi program (Bedtime Window) as part of this research study. The digital CBTi program being used is not a commercially available product.

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

GP investigator: Professor Nick Zwar

Click here to receive more information: https://bond.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ea089FomERd5pkO 

Alternatively contact one of the research team below:

Lead investigator Professor Nick Zwar at nzwar@bond.edu.au or (07) 5595 5499, or the trial manager Dr Stijn Soenen ssoenen@bond.edu.au or Dr Amanda Tauber (atauber@bond.edu.au)

This Australia-wide project aims to improve care for adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) with a focus on people in rural/remote regions, Culturally & Linguistically Diverse & Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities. It is funded by the MRFF Mission for TBI & led by Prof Jennie Ponsford AO. We invite GPs to participate in a brief survey about practices and needs in care of individuals & their family members following TBI. This will inform training programs & resource development.

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

Investigators: Prof Jennie Ponsford, Dr Jessica Trevena-Peters, Dr. Cynthia Honan, Prof. Leanne Togher, Assoc. Prof. Dana Wong, Prof. Jennifer Fleming, Prof. Tamara Ownsworth, Assoc. Prof. Grahame Simpson, Emer. Prof. Jacinta Douglas, Dr Zoe Adey-Wakeling, Dr Clare Ramsden, Assoc. Prof. Rene Stolwyk, Dr. Travis Wearne, Dr. Bruce Powell, Nick Rushworth, Dr. Ann Livingstone, Dr. Marina Downing, Janet Wagland, Dr. Dean McKenzie, Miffy Durham

GP investigator: Dr Mukesh Haikerwal AC

Contact person and details: Study Email: tbi.rehabproject@monash.edu OR DR JESSICA TREVENA-PETERS School of Psychological Sciences Monash University E: jessica.trevena-peters@monash.edu

Brief Description of participants or practices (inclusion/exclusion criteria): All General Practitioners across Australia are invited to participate (it does not matter how in/frequently they see adults with a traumatic brain injury and/or their family members for care). We are inviting all General Practitioners across Australia to participate in a 5-10 minute online survey about care following Traumatic Brain Injury and share the survey with their colleagues.

Commencement date of the project: 28/03/2025

Closing date for recruitment: 29/08/2025

Link to survey: https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3q3KwCtDNvD9Onk

Link to website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z6TxvhIt3SjgtXatPxhN1GCSPcE5_8cm/view?usp=drive_link

Time involvement of participants: 5-10 minutes

This study aims to understand the unique context of the GP in rural South Australia and what might hinder or help them in initiating formalised research projects. Our method of data collection is via email correspondence, allowing flexibility in commitment and response time for busy professionals.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from: South Australia

Investigators: Chief Investigator Dr Nicola Parkin College of Medicine and Public Health Flinders University Tel: 61882015337 Co-Investigator Cecelia Fort (MD2) College of Medicine and Public Health Flinders University Tel: 0435848696

Contact person and details: Cecelia Fort fort0045@flinders.edu.au 0435848696

Brief Description of participants or practices (inclusion/exclusion criteria): General Practitioners who work or have worked in a rural setting in South Australia and are willing to participate in the study via email.

Commencement date of the project: 24/03/2025

Closing date for recruitment: 22/06/2026

Time involvement of participants: Sporadic, short responses to email prompts- either ongoing, or in a single response.

If CPD hours applicable, the CPD type (Measuring outcomes, Reviewing performance, Educational activities): None

Monash University is seeking general practitioners, physiotherapists, rheumatologists and orthopaedic surgeons who provide care to people with shoulder pain to take part in a study identifying priority questions for an Australian ‘living’ clinical practice guideline for the management of people with shoulder pain. Taking part involves completing an online survey (5-10 minutes). A second round will ask participants to rank the aggregated results of the first survey in order of priority.

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

Investigators: Dr Romi Haas, Dr Danielle Berkovic, Prof Ilana Ackerman, A/Prof Samuel Whittle, Prof Richard Page, Prof Mark Morgan, Prof Rachelle Buchbinder

Contact details: Dr Romi Haas (romi.haas@monash.edu)

Survey link: https://monashred.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9z4l09oet7L6Zqm

Brief Description of participants sought: Currently practising general practitioners within Australia are eligible to participate. In addition, we are also inviting people with lived experience of shoulder pain, shoulder researchers, physiotherapists, rheumatologists and orthopaedic surgeons with experience managing people with shoulder pain to take part in the survey.

Commencement date of the project: 6/12/2024

Time involvement of participants: 5-10 minutes for each survey round

GP Investigator: Professor Mark Morgan

Evaluate if a lifestyle-focused text message program can improve breast cancer survivors’ outcomes and be beneficial for patients and GPs. Feedback from >500 patients found a similar program useful and motivating but wanted it from their GP. Trial setup is easy and fast (~1-hour). Your team will: 1. Search for eligible patients (no data leaves the practice) 2. Send 1 text message with a link to the study information sheet and e-consent

Compensation offered: $200 per practice and CPD hours (details on website)

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

Investigators: Prof Julie Redfern - Bond University Dr Anna Singleton - University of Sydney (GP) A/Prof Carolyn Ee - Western Sydney University/Flinders University Dr Stephanie Partridge- University of Sydney Prof Raymond Chan - Flinders University Dr Kirsty Stuart - University of Sydney A/Prof Elisabeth Elder - University of Sydney Dr Nashid Hafiz - University of Sydney Dr Karice Hyun - University of Sydney A/Prof Jennifer McIntosh – University of Melbourne

GP investigator: A/Prof Carolyn Ee - Western Sydney University/Flinders University

Practices sought: any practice that can search for eligible patients and send 1 text message using the system of your choice. The process is faster and easier if your practice has PenCAT.

Patients sought: people who finished active breast cancer treatment (surgery and/or chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) within the past 3 years and attended at least 1 GP appointment in the past 2 years.

Link to website: https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=H4RK4RJLTFPFFK8W

Contact person and details: Dr Anna Singleton (anna.singleton@sydney.edu.au)

Time involvement of participants: Patients: 2-years. The patients receive a 6-month lifestyle-focused text message program at the start or end of the trial, which provides evidence-based tips for managing health and weblinks to free resources and services. Patients also fill in short surveys (5-10mins) every 6-months for 2-years. Practice: 2-years. However, the University of Sydney team manages the patients’ participation (no additional work for your practice).

If CPD hours applicable, the CPD type: Measuring Outcomes, Reviewing Performance and Educational Activities CPD hours are available over the 2-3 years that your practice is involved. GPs can self-claim CPD hours. We provide a guide for maximum and minimum hours, but these are flexible, and GPs can self-judge.

Commencement date of the project: 28/04/2023

Closing date for recruitment: 31/12/2026

We're very keen to collaborate! Please reach out to me if you have any questions (anna.singleton@sydney.edu.au).

Our published trial protocol is here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39663171/

This research project aims to explore GP’s perceptions of dementia care in general practice. In particular, it focuses on the challenges around dementia diagnosis, and how acceptable new approaches to diagnosis would be in primary care. As part of the research, we will conduct a brief survey and an optional one-on-one interview with GPs in which we ask about current diagnosis methods and any perceived barriers and drivers to new tests for dementia.

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

Link to survey: https://redcap.unimelb.edu.au/surveys/?s=C7NRJJ3NTFKLLY4R

Investigators: Dr Cath Kaylor-Hughes (project supervisor), Dr Dhamidhu Eratne, Dr Amy Coe, Professor Jane Gunn, Dr Christa Dang, Dr Nikka Milani, Cate Hallett

GP investigator: Professor Jane Gunn

Time involvement of participants: Survey: 10-15 minutes Interview: 1 hour

Compensation offered: $100 gift card for interview participation reimbursement

If CPD hours applicable, the CPD type: 1.5 hours (1 hour reviewing performance, 0.5 educational activities)

Contact person and details: Nikka Milani nikka.milani@unimelb.edu.au

Brief Description of participants or practices: Currently practising general practitioners within Australia are eligible to participate.

Commencement date of the project: 15/02/2025

Closing date for recruitment: 2/06/2025

To understand current Australian prescribing practices for PTSD, and clinicians’ perspectives on the challenges to optimal pharmacological management, we are conducting a national, cross-sectional online survey directed at clinicians involved in the management of PTSD. We are interested in your perspectives on prescribing for PTSD, and the strategies you adopt to manage psychotropic polypharmacy.

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

Investigators: Dr Rebecca Mellor (Gallipoli Medical Research) Dr Sanket Raut (Gallipoli Medical Research) Dr Andrew Khoo (Toowong Private Hospital) Dr Kieran McCarthy (GO2Health)

Contact details: Dr Rebecca Mellor, MellorR@gallipoliresearch.org.au www.gallipoliresearch.com.au

Brief Description of participants sought: We are seeking specialist clinicians (GPs, psychiatrists) who are responsible for the management of patients with PTSD in your practice, including prescription of medication. You must be currently registered with AHPRA. To protect your privacy, this survey is anonymous.

The below link will direct you to the survey information (for a more detailed description) and consent form prior to commencing the survey: https://bit.ly/41EzClZ

Commencement date of the project: 9/12/2024

Closing date for recruitment: 30/05/2025

Time involvement of participants: The anonymous online survey will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete

GP Investigator: Dr Kieran McCarthy

Sciatica is a debilitating condition. The DREAM trial is a randomised, superiority, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded trial investigating the efficacy and safety of duloxetine in participants with chronic sciatica of at least 3 months duration and will include patients seen in general practices, specialist outpatient clinics, hospital emergency departments or from hospital in-patient wards.

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

Investigators: Doctor Giovanni Ferreira, Professor Christopher Maher, Professor Christine Lin (University of Sydney), Professor Laurent Billot The George Institute for Global Health, Professor Richard Day (UNSW), Professor Rowena Ivers UOW (GP), Professor Martin Underwood Warwick University, UK, Professor Andrew McLachlan University of Sydney (Sydney School of Pharmacy), Doctor Bethan Richards Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Professor Nanna Finnerup Aarhus University, Denmark

Contact details: dream_trial@sydney.edu.au. Level 10N, King George V Building Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (C39) PO Box M179, Missenden Road NSW 2050 AUSTRALIA T: +61 2 8627 6447

Inclusions criteria: Adults (18 years old and above) with radiating pain into one leg in a dermatomal distribution, for at least 3 months of moderate intensity pain, an adequate understanding of English

Exclusion criteria: Known or suspected specific pathologies in the spine, malignancy, spinal surgery or other interventional procedure in the preceding 6 months/ scheduled, pregnant, breastfeeding. (see PIS for full exclusions list)

Commencement date of the project: 21/11/2024

Closing date for recruitment: 30/06/2027

Time involvement of participants: Baseline survey, 10-minute survey will completed online or by phone 6 times over the next year (at week 4, 8, 12, 16, 26 and 52). Daily SMS asking participants to record a pain score, time to take study medication for up to 14 weeks.

Compensation offered: Study participants receive the study medication free of charge. Participants receive gift voucher/s of up to $150 in total over the 1-year study period after reaching certain trial milestones.

Availability of CPD points: Self logging

This cluster trial will compare two ways of prescribing analgesia, including opioids, for patients with low back pain. The first offers patients pain relief options such as heat wrap in addition to opioids, and the second is usual care.

Patients with low back pain will be eligible when the study GP considers it appropriate to prescribe an opioid medicine for back pain at the study visit.

Our team hope to recruit 410 patient-participants (205 per arm) from at least 40 participating general practices in urban, and regional/remote/very remote locations across NSW.

The study team will be in regular contact with study GPs throughout the trial to provide support, discuss trial progress, conduct refresher training and any follow-up questionnaires.

Geographic location the project wishes to recruit from:
New South Wales. Noting if targets are not met within NSW, recruitment may be extended nationally.  

Principal investigator:
Dr Christina Abdel Shaheed  

Co- investigators:
Professor Chris Maher
A/Professor Rowena Ivers (GP)
Professor Andrew McLachlan
Professor Fiona Blyth
Professor Louisa Degenhardt
Dr Thomas Lung
Associate Professor Patrick Kelly
A/Professor Fiona Stanaway
Dr Rachel Thompson
 
Associate Investigators:
Dr Sharon Reid (GP)
Dr Michael Wright (GP)
Professor Bradley Martin
Rawa Osman
Carol Bennett
Jarrod McMaugh
Gabrielle Campbell
Professor Kirsten McCaffery
Dr Hazel Jenkins
Professor Simon French
Dr Stephanie Mathieson

Compensation offered:

• $100 per patient enrolled
• $30 for patient screening
• $100 for training visit
• $100 for interview (if assigned to intervention)

GP inclusion criteria:

• Consult with patients who have LBP.
• Has no prescribing restrictions, that is, eligible to prescribe an opioid analgesic (including schedule 8 opioid analgesics).
• Consent to researchers gaining access to their prescribing data.

GP exclusion criteria:

• Participating GPs at that practice has received an education visit by any organisation on judicious opioid prescribing in the previous 12 months.

*GP Clinics must have one practising GP registered with APHRA.

Patient inclusion criteria:

• Adults (≥18 years)
• Low back pain of any duration at the time of presentation
• Has been prescribed an opioid analgesic for LBP by the participating GP.
• Sufficient understanding of English to complete questionnaires, or translation available.
• Holds an Australian Medicare card number (for data linkage purposes).
• Willingness to give written informed consent to participate in the trial and grant researchers access to their Medicare/Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and other trial-related data.

Patient exclusion criteria:

• Children (<18 years)
• Engaged in an opioid tapering regimen at the time of enrolment into the study i.e., have already begun to reduce their opioid medicine within the past month
• Be actively treated for cancer or receiving palliative treatment.

Commencement date of the project:
April 2022

Closing date for recruitment:
March 2026

Time involvement:
GPs: Till recruitment target is met (12-15 patient-participants). If participating in an interview GPs will be followed up for up to 16 weeks after target is met.
Patient Participant: One year period.

Availability of CPD points:
Yet to be determined.

Contact details:
If you are interested in participating, please email the Project manager or Clinical Trials Assistant.

Lisa Vizza | Project Manager | lisa.vizza@sydney.edu.au
Sarah Diprose | Clinical Trials Assistant | sarah.diprose@sydney.edu.au
Rowena Ivers| Co-Investigator and General Practictioner| rivers@uow.edu.au