Other Health Service Projects

An anthropological study of the implementation of a Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) to meet the health needs of two rural communities.

This project elicited the factors that informed the involvement of local residents and health professionals in the planning of a MPS to meet the health needs of two rural communities in Western Australia. Situating the research within the current neoliberalist framework, it argues that the strategies to plan and implement a MPS, while reflecting the need to consolidate and utilise health services for the perceived benefit of the common good, are cultural and political struggles played out in a rural context. The study was part of a masters project for Angela Durey, a research officer at CUCRH. Dr Chris Lockhart from CUCRH was the local supervisor. Findings have been published in Australian Health Review (Durey and Lockhart 2004).

Qualitative study of the collaboration between general practitioners and community mental health teams in rural and remote areas

The majority of mental health workers and general practitioners in the Midwest region of Western Australia would like to improve their working relationship. In response to this desire, in 2001 and 2002 Angela Durey, A/Prof John Durham and Dr Chris Lockhart worked on this qualitative research project to elicit the views of mental health workers and general practitioners regarding the use of the mental health services in the region and ways in which communication and cooperation between the two service providers might be improved. The project particularly examined the conflicting and contradictory meanings that GPs and mental health workers attribute to an inherently ambiguous health area and the ways that these meanings influence referral and treatment practices, safeguard professional autonomy, and ultimately contribute to an antagonistic and factional environment. A major aim of the project included the development of a model or models of partnership appropriate to the realities of service delivery in a rural/remote region, which could contribute to a memorandum of understanding between GPs and the Central West Mental Health Service

Factors that influence the utilisation of health services by rural men

Research and action combined to address rural men’s health. Dermot Buckley, under the supervision of Dr Tony Lower, conducted focus groups and circulated a mailed questionnaire to a stratified, random sample of 1,000 men to determine utilisation patterns, attitudes, and barriers and enablers. This study was presented at the 4th National Men's and Boys Health Conference, University of Western Sydney, September 2001. It was later published in the Australian Health Review (Buckley and Lower 2002).

The project was guided by the Midwest Men's Health group and the data produced was instrumental in gaining $200,000 for men's health projects in the Midwest.

.

A qualitative needs assessment for the Pilbara Division of GPs for the "More Allied Health Services" (MAHS) project 

An initiative by the federal government to fund the divisions of GPs for allied health worker support. In 2001 CUCRH assisted the Pilbara region by conducting many interviews and focus groups to ascertain the issues surrounding allied health worker support. A report was written and funding gained.

Purchasing Model for Rural Allied Health Products in Rural and Remote Western Australia

Commissioned by rural general managers of health services, this described current practices in measurement and purchasing of allied health products used in other states and internationally. It critically assessed the applicability of those practices to rural and remote Western Australia. Results were presented at the sixth National Rural Health Conference in 2001.

.