Developing a national strategy of consumer and community involvement (CCI) for women's health research.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a consumer and community involvement (CCI) strategy for the Women's Health Research, Translation and Impact Network (WHRTN), an initiative of the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA). TYPE OF PROGRAM: A national network, comprising representatives from 14 nationally-accredited research translation centres that aims to embed CCI at a systems level, to improve equity and health outcomes across women's health. METHODS: A CCI Sub-Committee of WHRTN was established, chaired by a Consumer Advisor/Advocate. This committee invited both internal and external Consumer Advisor/Advocates to participate in a workshop, to guide the development of WHRTN's CCI Strategy in women's health research. RESULTS: A CCI Strategy document was written with input from workshop attendees and leading academics in women's health and has now been implemented into WHRTN, informing all aspect of the Network's programs and activities. DISCUSSION: Broad and early consumer involvement can facilitate meaningful partnerships between researchers and community, and enable genuine consumer contributions to research across strategy development, priority setting and undertaking research. Appropriate finances and time need to be allocated for CCI, with training in CCI a key enabler for its effective implementation.

Consumer and community involvement in research is increasingly recognised as an important component of high-quality research. It is now required by many research funders and organisations. However, researchers and organisations often struggle with how to initiate and implement consumer and community involvement at a systems level. In this paper, we outline the processes used to develop a national consumer and community involvement strategy for the Australian Health Research Alliance, Women's Health Research Translation and Impact Network. This provides a roadmap of how organisations can achieve a framework that supports consumer and community involvement across the research pathway. The strategy highlights the need for broad and early inclusion of consumers in decision making, financing consumer involvement, allowing time to build partnerships, and inclusion of training for researchers and consumers.

Preventive evidence into practice (PEP) study: implementation of guidelines to prevent primary vascular disease in general practice protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are significant gaps in the implementation and uptake of evidence-based guideline recommendations for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes in Australian general practice. This study protocol describes the methodology for a cluster randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a model that aims to improve the implementation of these guidelines in Australian general practice developed by a collaboration between researchers, non-government organisations, and the profession. METHODS: We hypothesise that the intervention will alter the behaviour of clinicians and patients resulting in improvements of recording of lifestyle and physiological risk factors (by 20%) and increased adherence to guideline recommendations for: the management of CVD and diabetes risk factors (by 20%); and lifestyle and physiological risk factors of patients at risk (by 5%). Thirty-two general practices will be randomised in a 1:1 allocation to receive either the intervention or continue with usual care, after stratification by state. The intervention will be delivered through: small group education; audit of patient records to determine preventive care; and practice facilitation visits adapted to the needs of the practices. Outcome data will be extracted from electronic medical records and patient questionnaires, and qualitative evaluation from provider and patient interviews. DISCUSSION: We plan to disseminate study findings widely and directly inform implementation strategies by governments, professional bodies, and non-government organisations including the partner organisations.

Using computer based templates for chronic disease management.

BACKGROUND: General Practice Management Plans (GPMPs) and Team Care Arrangements (TCAs) were introduced in 2005 to promote better chronic disease management and to provide funding to support general practitioner involvement in care planning. To develop these plans, GPs complete forms documenting goals and strategies using computer based templates. OBJECTIVE: This article evaluates GP use of computer based templates for GPMPs and TCAs, their views about using them, and community health service (CHS) staff attitudes to the role of TCAs in coordination of care. METHOD: A qualitative interview based study of 31 GPs from solo and group practices and 15 service providers from community health centres (n=46). DISCUSSION: Most GPs interviewed used templates in claiming the GPMP and TCA items. Reasons GPs chose not to use the items included time constraints and uncertainty about the process. Community health service staff identified difficulties with TCAs and care coordination. This study suggests that templates assist GPs in claiming for GPMP and TCA Medicare Benefits Schedule item numbers but do not in themselves facilitate care coordination. To improve care coordination between general practice and other agencies, communication regarding TCAs must be improved.