Program aim

To improve the well-being of the population, and reduce the burden on acute and community health services by working with relevant stakeholders to develop and test innovative models of care that are appropriate to the social environment and feasible to implement, and to support translation of the findings into improved health policy and practice. The program focuses on the prevention and management of chronic diseases in rural and remote communities.

A strong basis for the research program

Research from 2002 to 2005 has focused on two inter-related areas:

• Obesity and chronic disease prevention and management – collaborating with investigators at UNSW and NSW Health to undertake pilot an intervention on diabetes prevention in general practice; collaborating with NCAHS Health Promotion Unit, Southern Cross University, and Northern Rivers Division of General Practice to develop an intervention for prevention and management of gestational diabetes; working with Dharah Gibinj AMS on an action research program to evaluate and strengthen their outreach diabetes clinic.
• Evaluation of innovative programs undertaken by Area Health Services – including the MERIT Program; the integrated care trial for drug dependent women; the Northern Rivers Priority Health Care Program; the Northern Oral Health Network call centre models; an outreach antenatal service for Aboriginal women; and the North Coast AHS smoke free health care implementation.

The program received an award from the NSW Ministry for Science and Medical Research at the inaugural NSW Aboriginal Health Research Conference 2005: Highly Commended for Aboriginal Health Research.

Key stakeholders are engaged in setting and implementing the research agenda

Clinicians and/or policy makers are actively involved in all the health services research projects and programs from the early stages. Policy makers at both local and state level are involved in most studies, and have been instrumental in initiating much of the research. In Aboriginal Health the program works closely with Aboriginal partner organizations, including the community controlled sector and area health services.

In the next 3-5 years

Capacity building will be undertaken in association with the PHCRED program, and supervision of post-graduate research students (currently 3 PhD candidates).

Over the next three years the research program will build on work to date and will:

• Continue qualitative research to explore consumer understanding and perspectives on risk factors and lifestyle modification. Target groups: rural and remote adults over 45; adolescents; pregnant women; and Aboriginal people
• Trial interventions to prevent gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Continue research in Aboriginal Health, in collaboration with local Aboriginal organizations including an action research program on the diabetes outreach clinic.

Team:
Dr Sue Page – NRUDRH
Professor David Lyle - BHUDRH
Mr Hudson Birden – NRUDRH
Dr Jeffrey Fuller - NRUDRH
Dr Megan Passey – NRUDRH
Ms Jocelyn Morris BHUDRH
Associate Professor Gaynor Heading