GP'S TO CONTRIBUTE TO MEDICAL RESEARCH

A project aimed at increasing opportunities for general practitioners to contribute to research will be launched in Sydney this week. The Primary Health Care Research Network (PHReNet), involving GPs, Divisions of General Practice and other primary care workers from South-West Sydney, will be launched on 22nd November at Sunnybrook Convention Centre, Warwick Farm.

According to the Director of PHReNet, Dr Elizabeth Comino, general practice is a rich source of health information but general practitioners traditionally have had little opportunity to participate in research activities.

"Some 85 % of people will have seen their GP in last 12 months," Dr Comino said. "Changes in health care delivery, with hospitals increasingly being used for shorter periods and for more acute conditions, means that most people with chronic conditions are now receiving more of their care in the community . This makes it important that general practice and other primary care providers are able to effectively develop applied research activities, participate in research and apply evidence from research conducted elsewhere to clinical practice," Dr Comino said.

PHReNet is an initiative of the University of NSW Primary Health Care Research Capacity Building Program and it's the first such program in NSW. Starting in South-Western Sydney, it will eventually include all the regions covered by the University including South-East Sydney and Illawarra.

Initially the Network will host workshops on research and evaluation methods and provide infrastructure support for research activities. Projects are being developed in a number of areas according to GP interest.

Dr Comino has also won a Churchill scholarship for 2002 to visit primary care networks in the United Kingdom where general practice is much more structured. "In recent years the British Department of Health has been actively funding these networks. Australia is much less developed in this area which is why I'll be visiting primary care networks and University Departments of General Practice and Primary Care in the UK to study network structures and primary care research methods."

The launch of PHReNet will be chaired by Professor Mark Harris, Head of School of Community Medicine at the University of NSW.

What: The Primary Health Care Research Network (PHReNet)

When: 6.00pm, Thursday, 22 November

Where: Sunnybrook Convention Centre

Media Contact: Dr Comino on 9616 8520 or Sarah Martin, Media Office, Public Affairs & Development, on 9385 3192.