Building research capacity in south-west Sydney through a Primary and Community Health Research Unit

Emma L Friesen; Elizabeth J Comino; Jennifer Reath; Alison Derrett; Maree Johnson; Gawaine Powell Davies; Siaw Teng-Liaw; Lynn Kemp

doi:10.1071/PY12081

Building research capacity in south-west Sydney through a Primary and Community Health Research Unit

Aust J Prim Health. 2014;20(1):4-8. doi: 10.1071/PY12081.

Authors

Emma L Friesen¹, Elizabeth J Comino¹, Jennifer Reath², Alison Derrett³, Maree Johnson⁴, Gawaine Powell Davies⁵, Siaw Teng-Liaw⁶, Lynn Kemp⁷

Affiliations

¹ Primary and Community Health Research Unit, Part of Centre from Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales and South Western Sydney Local Health District, PCHRU-CHETRE Liverpool, Locked bag 7103, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia.
² School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
³ South Western Sydney Local Health District, 5 Thomas Rose Drive, Rosemeadow, NSW 2560, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Applied Nursing Research, Joint venture between South Western Sydney Local Health District and University of Western Sydney, CANR, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁶ General Practice Unit, Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, GP Unit, PO Box 5, Fairfield, NSW 1860, Australia.
⁷ Centre for Health Equity Training Research and Evaluation, Part of Centre from Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales and South West Sydney Local Health District, CHETRE Liverpool, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia.

PMID: 23050636
DOI: 10.1071/PY12081

Abstract

The Primary and Community Health Research Unit was established in 2010 in south-west Sydney to build research capacity in primary and community health services and help generate evidence to underpin clinical activities. In 2011, six project teams participated in a 12-month researcher mentoring program, undertaking projects in quality improvement and service evaluation. Project teams were linked with academic mentors and participated in four research skill development workshops covering research design, research ethics, statistical analysis and academic writing. All project teams presented their work at two or more research conferences, and all are preparing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The Primary and Community Health Research Unit's approach to research capacity building in primary and community health services appears to be effective in supporting novice researchers to undertake research in their clinical settings. Sustainability is dependent on securing ongoing funding. Further analysis is needed to identify strengths and weaknesses of this approach.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Australia
Capacity Building / methods*
Community Health Services / methods*
Health Services Research / methods*
Humans
Mentors
Primary Health Care / methods*
Program Development / methods*
Program Evaluation / methods*