What do general practice managers think about research?

Conference:

SAPC ASM 2016 - Dublin

Talk Code:

P2.37

Presenter:

Meredith Temple-Smith

Co-authors:

Anna Wood, Professor Jane Hocking, Dr Jennifer Walker, Professor Meredith Temple-Smith

Author institutions:

University of Melbourne Australia

Problem

General practice provides 83% of health care in Australia and general practice-based research is essential to ensure the health care provided in this setting is evidence-based and delivered effectively. Nevertheless the output of general practice-based research remains low compared with other areas of the health service. To facilitate the conduct of research in general practice an understanding of the complexities of these organisations and the roles within is required. While the practice manager (PM) co-ordinates day to day practice routine, there has been little investigation of their role in supporting research. To inform future general practice-based research designs we investigated the role of the PM in the uptake and implementation of a research intervention in Australian general practice by examining the PM’s knowledge, attitudes and involvement in the Australia Chlamydia Control Effectiveness Pilot (ACCEPt). ACCEPt is a randomised controlled trial with a multifaceted intervention designed to increase general practice-based chlamydia testing. We believe this sub-study to be the first undertaken in Australia to investigate the PMs’ role in research.

Approach

Purposive sampling identified 23 PMs from 65 supporting the ACCEPt intervention. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted between April and September 2014. Interview data was thematically analysed using a summative content analysis approach.

Findings

Our findings revealed the PM role varied between practices; however they all championed research and undertook the non-clinical tasks associated with ACCEPt. Most PMs (22/23) believed their role was to manage research and was vital it to the success and sustainability of ACCEPt, although 21 of 23 PMs had no prior research training or experience. PMs reported time constraints of clinical staff as a major barrier to research uptake. To protect GP and nurses’ time, PMs liaised with ACCEPt Research Officers; coordinated research meetings; managed data collection; recruited new GPs and kept ACCEPt on practice meeting agendas. To facilitate increased chlamydia testing PMs identified strategies in their general practices to accommodate and support increased chlamydia testing.

Consequences

This study suggests that PMs are ideally placed to manage multi-faceted interventions such as ACCEPt in the general practice setting and their active participation influences the success and sustainability of research. The provision of suitable research training and education for PMs is warranted if we are to increase general practice-based research output. We believe the findings are significant in planning research interventions that are feasible and acceptable to general practice staff and fit into organisational culture.

Submitted by:

Anna Wood

Funding acknowledgement:

ACCEPt was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health. Additional funding has been received from the Victorian Department of Health, NSW Health and the National Health and Medical Research Council.