UNSW rolls out health research network

A research network to provide GPs and other primary health care practitioners with support, mentoring and workshops to develop their research ideas is being rolled out around New South Wales.

Primary health care practitioners in the Illawarra region are the most recent to be invited to develop their research skills and projects through membership of the network.

The launch of the scheme, PHReNet South, last week follows the establishment of the Primary Health Care Research Network, or PHReNet, in South-West Sydney and in South-East Sydney a year ago. The program is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging.

PHReNet director Dr Elizabeth Comino is optimistic that the scheme will get underway in the Greater Murray and Riverina districts in 2003. Also in the pipeline are ideas to extend the research network to allied health workers such as pharmacists.

Four projects are already underway, including one study of the barriers and facilitators to 3+ Asthma Plan visits and one into the health effects of Tai Chi on patients with diabetes.

For more information on the Primary Health Care Research Capacity Building Program, please contact Dr Comino or Mr Oshana Hermiz on (02) 9616 8520.

Item provided courtesy of UNSW