UQGP Research

Welcome to UQGP Research; a practice-based research network supported by The University of Queensland.

What is UQGP Research?

UQGP Research is a practice-based research network (PBRN) supporting collaboration between general practitioners and their practices and University of Queensland researchers.

Our network of GP practices and university researchers aims to conduct research in general practice to develop the evidence-base to improve primary health care and outcomes for patients. We work together to achieve this aim by combining complementary skills and resources.

UQGP Research welcomes general practice staff including practice managers, nurses and GPs to join our network.

Director

Professor Katharine Wallis

Mayne Professor and Head, Mayne Academy of General Practice and Head, General Practice Clinical Unit, Medical School

Professor Katharine Wallis is a Fellow of both the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners currently practising part-time as a GP on the Gold Coast.

Katharine’s research focuses on patient safety in primary care, in particular supporting safer prescribing in general practice.

Why UQGP Research is important

Most health care is delivered in primary care, yet most health and medical research takes place elsewhere.

UQGP Research creates an opportunity for practice-based research to develop meaningful, context-specific knowledge that is more readily translated into practice.

University researchers partnering with general practices can generate practical problem-solving strategies, pragmatic evidence and solutions to improve outcomes for patients in our community.

How UQGP Research works

UQGP Research links practice-based staff who understand the context specific problems that need solving with academic staff who have the research skills and experience to help find solutions.

General Practitioners and their staff are essential to the healthcare system and in a unique position to influence patient care and outcomes through research. Practice based staff understand the general practice context, the context-specific problems faced in primary care, and have ideas for ways to improve care.

Researchers have the capacity to secure research funding, develop and manage research projects, obtain ethical approval, manage and analyse data, write reports, and disseminate findings.

Together, we form a strong team with the united aim of improving primary health care and outcomes for our patients.

Why join UQGP Research

Become part of a team identifying and answering important questions to develop the evidence base for general practice. Contributing to improving primary health care for patients will not only improve outcomes for patients, but also make your working day more rewarding.

Identify important questions and develop research skills by taking part in research projects.

As a member of our network, you may:

Receive a UQ certificate recognising your practice as a UQ-affiliated research practice
Receive a UQ Academic Title and access to the University of Queensland’s extensive library
Participate on the UQGP Research steering committee
Meet the practice incentives program quality improvement (PIP QI) requirements
Accrue points for continuing professional development
Attend UQGP Research networking events
Receive the UQGP Research newsletter
Receive an Acknowledgement for your contribution to research projects

Our research projects

RELEASE: REdressing Long-tErm Antidepressant uSE in general practice

The RELEASE study will evaluate effectiveness of the RELEASE intervention which has been designed to prompt medication review, support shared decision-making, and guide safe discontinuation of long-term antidepressants where there is no clinical indication for ongoing use.

Funded by: Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) 2020 Clinician Researchers: Applied Research in Health - MRFAR000079 (Commonwealth Department of Health).

Research leads: Professor Katharine Wallis (Clinician Lead) and A/Professor Maria Donald (Implementation Lead).

The 3-Domains toolkit for assessing older drivers: pilot study in general practices and validation study in driving assessment clinic

Assessing fitness to drive in older drivers is an increasingly important but challenging role for general practice. General practitioners (GPs) are often the first port of call for concerned family or friends, and some Australian states and territories require older drivers to have an annual assessment of their health and fitness to drive. Some GPs are not comfortable in this role, citing concern to maintain relationships with older patients, concern about the impact driving cessation can have on an older person and poor access to on-road driving assessments.

The 3-Domains toolkit is a screening toolkit for use in general practice to inform clinical judgment when assessing fitness to drive in older drivers (>75 years). The toolkit comprises visual acuity using a Snellen chart; the functional reach test; and the road signs recognition test. The toolkit generates a score predicting the likelihood an older driver would pass an on-road driving test.

This project is to determine whether the 3-Domains toolkit is acceptable and useful to GPs and older drivers in Australia; to evaluate the effectiveness of the toolkit in predicting on-road driving test outcome in older drivers in Australia. If the toolkit is found to be effective, useful, acceptable to both GPs and older drivers, it could be used regularly in practices to inform clinical judgment, and as a communication tool to facilitate discussions about the need to plan for eventual driving cessation or for on-road testing.

Funded by: Motor Accident Insurance Commission and the RACGP Foundation grant.

Research team: Professor Katharine Wallis, A/Professor Geoff Spurling, Dr James Matthews, Dr Theresa Scott, Dr Rory Melville.

Access the 3-Domains toolkit.

Assessing fitness to drive in older people: the need for an evidence-based toolkit in general practice.

Projects are updated as approved and funded.
Please contact us to share your ideas for research projects and problems that need solving.

Our governance structure

UQGP Research Steering Committee

The UQGP Research Steering Committee hosts annual meetings to prioritise research questions and to provide progress updates on current projects.

UQGP Research Director - Professsor Katharine Wallis
UQGP Research GP liaison - Dr Rory Melville
3 elected members from general practice
2 community representatives
Representative from a GP college

Academic Advisory Committee

Professor Katharine Wallis
A/Professor Deb Askew
Dr Rory Melville