Homegrown GP research critical: RACGP

The Commonwealth must commit $12 million over five years to ensure the nation’s GPs are equipped with the latest and most credible research for treating patients.
 
That is according to the RACGP’s pre-Budget submission 2024–25, which is calling for the creation of a new national practice-based research network.
 
It says without this program, there is currently a significant barrier to generating high-quality evidence or evaluating policy effectiveness in general practice.
 
It also points to a critical need to shorten the time lag between generating evidence and changing clinical practice, with the aim of creating healthier communities. 
 
‘Currently, the bulk of research underway is irrelevant to primary care,’ the submission said.
 
‘While general practice sees over 90% of the Australian population each year, only 18% of the activity is underpinned by research carried out in general practice.
 
‘High quality, relevant evidence is needed to inform efficient and cost-effective policy and practice for general practice.’
 
The submission says this network will fill the gap left by previous Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) data, which ended in 2016.
 
It said this study significantly contributed to quality patient care, health system performance, and the work of the RACGP – and must be replaced.
 
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said the creation of the network is a simple solution which will improve the health and wellbeing of Australians.
 
‘The Canadian network produces strong evidence that results in better care for the health issues the country is grappling with, including chronic disease, ageing, addiction and even allergies,’ she said.
 
‘And when the pandemic struck, the United Kingdom used its network to rapidly establish a large-scale trial of COVID treatment in general practice. 
 
‘The pandemic exposed a gap in Australia’s health system; a major underinvestment in general practice-based research. We don’t have a national network like the UK or Canada, so we couldn’t run large-scale trials of COVID treatment in general practice.’
 
In a recent newsGP poll, 68% of respondents said the greatest benefit of having more Australian general practice-based research is stronger evidence for clinical decisions.
 
Around 13% said it would create more career opportunities for GPs within general practice, and 11% said it would lead to better information to provide patients.
 
The RACGP’s submission added that the creation of a network would also have a positive impact on the profession’s workforce issues, through GP academics inspiring the next generation of medical students to a career in general practice.
 
It also said the local research would help to upskill the primary care workforce to support and translate research into practice, as well as provide data for disease surveillance and vaccine effectiveness.
 
Should the Government heed the college’s call, the initiative would augment existing, smaller practice-based research networks, including the Translating Research Outcomes in the Primary Health Interface (TROPHI) project – a collaboration between the RACGP, University of Melbourne and Monash University, with seed funding from the Windermere Foundation.
 
‘This innovative project is focused on improving care in line with local community needs – developing better tools and support for people with mental health concerns, is just one example,’ Dr Higgins said.
 
‘I urge the Government to make this investment in the next Budget – it will pay dividends in terms of improving our health and wellbeing for generations to come.’
 
The RACGP has previously called for this year’s Federal Budget to include annual children’s health checks, increased funding for longer consultations, support for practice growth, and paid parental and study leave for registrars.
 
The Budget is expected to be handed down in May.
 
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