Past Projects
Sustainable teaching in general practice in WA (2010)
Investigators: Caroline Laurence, Linda Black
Funded by WAGPET
AOGP was contracted to replicate the South Australian study on the sustainability of teaching in general practice in Western Australia. This study determined the sustainability of teaching in WA practices associated with WAGPET, the costs and benefits of teaching and the financial effect of various teaching models.Associated Publications:
Laurence C, Black L. Sustainable teaching in general practice in WA: Final report. August 2010. Western Australian General Practice Education and Training.
Available at: wagpet.com.au/.../general-practice-survey-now
Laurence CO, Black LE, Cheah C, Karnon J. Is different better? Models of teaching and their influence on the net financial outcome for general practice teaching posts.
BMC Medical Education 2011, 11:45 doi:10.1186/1472-6920-11-45.
Available at: www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/11/45/abstract
The selection of general practice training in South Australia by prevocational doctors (2009)
Investigators: Stacey Panozzo, Caroline Laurence, Sarah Meertens, Alison Marrinan
Funded by AOGP
AOGP undertook a telephone survey prevocational doctors who had been selected to RTPs in 2010 in South Australia to determine what factors influenced their choice of speciality and RTP. The influencing factors included friends and personal connections family, geographic location and practice location.
Practice location of AOGP Alumni (2009)
Investigators: Caroline Laurence, Stacey Panozzo
Funded by AOGP
In July 2009, AOGP undertook a study to determine the practice location of AOGP graduates. Information was obtained on the practice location of 98% of graduates and provides evidence on the retention of graduates in the AOGP training region and training pathway.
Sustainable teaching in private general practice (2007-2009)
Investigators: Caroline Laurence, Linda Black, Carolyn Cheah, Jon Karnon
Funded by AOGP
One of Adelaide to Outback’s (A2O) key projects for 2007/2008 was an investigation into the sustainability of teaching in community-based general practice. The project arose from concerns from a number of key stakeholders, particularly our GP supervisors, regarding the increasing amount of teaching that is being placed in community-based general practice without commensurate support. This study had three parts – the first was determining the teaching capacity of AOGP practices; the second to determine the cost of teaching in private general practice and the third was to determine the cost of various models of teaching. The results were based on a survey of AOGP teaching practices and we found that there was some capacity within our teaching practices to increase their teaching levels, but that there were significant costs associated with teaching at some levels, particularly medical students. However, different models of teaching can affect the net financial gain for a teaching practice.
Associated Publications:
Laurence CO, Black LE, Karnon J, Briggs NE. To teach or not to teach? A cost-benefit analysis of teaching in private general practice. Med J Aust, 2010;193: 608-613
www.mja.com.au/public/issues/193_10_151110/lau10187_fm.html
Laurence CO, Black LE. Teaching capacity in general practice: results from a survey of practices and Supervisors in South Australia. Med J Aust, 2009;191:102-104 www.mja.com.au/public/issues/191_02_200709/lau10372_fm.html
Pearce R, Laurence COM, Black L, Stocks S. The challenges of teaching in a general practice setting. Med J Aust, 2007; 187:129-132
www.mja.com.au/public/issues/187_02_160707/pea10529_fm.html
Enhancing the Quality Use of Pathology for GP Registrars and International Medical Graduates (IMGs) – assessing the need (2008-2009)
Investigators: Caroline Laurence, Tanya Bubner, Rosy Tirimacco, Moira McCaul, Don Cameron
Funded by Quality Use of Pathology Program
This study was undertaken to determine what training was needed for GP Registrars and IMGs to enhance quality use of pathology. A survey was undertaken of GP registrars enrolled in training with AOPG and IMGs enrolled in the Fellowship Program.
Associated Publications:
Bubner T, Laurence C. Enhancing the quality use of pathology for GP registrars and international medical graduates - assessing the need. 2009. Quality Use of Pathology Program.
www.health.gov.au/internet/main/Publishing.nsf/Content/qupp-qupp-reports.htm
Partner perceptions of the attractiveness of rural communities (PpARC): an exploration of the concerns of the families of GP Registrars in participating in a rural placement (2007-2008)
Investigators: Stacey Panozzo, Caroline Laurence, Linda Black
Funded by the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency
This study investigated the barriers associated with moving to a rural community from the spouse/partner perspective of GP Registrars and how these issues can be addressed. We found that spouses/partners identified aspects of concern regarding rural placements and living in rural communities and included educational opportunities for children, lack of employment opportunities for spouse/partner, and the workload of the GP Registrar. Participants also identified positives aspects of rural living such as the lifestyle, physical environment and culture.
Associated publications:
Panozzo S, Laurence C, Partner perceptions of the attractiveness of rural communities (PpARC): An exploration of the concerns of the families of General Practice (GP) Registrars in participating in a rural placement. April 2008. Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program.
Panozzo S, Laurence COM, Black L, Poole L. An exploration of the preconceptions of living in a rural community by GP Registrar partners. Aust J Rural Health, 2009;17:167-170
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1440-1584.2009.01063.x/full
The fact and the fiction associated with Rural GP Placements (2007)
Investigators: Taryn Elliott, Tim Bromley
This qualitative study explored the pre-placement expectations and the post-placement experiences of GP registrars undertaking a rural placement. A group of registrars were interviewed before and after their rural placements. What we found was that many of the negative pre-placement expectations were viewed positively by registrars when interviewed post-placement.
Associated Publications:
Elliott T, Bromley T, Chur-Hansen A, Laurence C. Expectations and experiences associated with rural GP placements. Rural and Remote Health 9:1264 (online) 2009. www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1264
General Practice terms for pre-registration junior doctors in South Australia: how valuable are they? (2005-2006)
Investigators: Caroline Laurence, Anne Martin
Funded by AOGP and Sturt Fleurieu GP Education and Training
This qualitative study described the clinical and educational experience of interns in general practice, emergency, general medicine and surgery terms and compared the experiences in terms of supervision, skill development and training. GP terms provided interns with knowledge and skills not available through training in the hospital setting. One-to-one consulting, initiating patient management and opportunity to practice a range of practical and procedural skills were seen as a value of GP terms.
Associated publications:
Martin A, Laurence COM, Black L, Mugford B. General practice placements for pre-registration junior doctors: adding value to intern education and training. Med J Aust 2007;186(7):346-349.
www.mja.com.au/public/issues/186_07_020407/mar10913_fm.html
Where to from here?: Characteristics and career determinants of interns in South Australia in 2003 (2003-2004)
Investigators: Caroline Laurence, Taryn Elliott, Linda Black
Funded by AOGP
This study described the characteristics of interns in South Australian teaching hospitals, the factors that influence their career choice and their decision-making process. The study was undertaken on junior medical officers undertaking their intern training in South Australian teaching hospitals in 2003. Interviews were undertaken with 54 interns and content analysis performed on the results. Factors influencing career choices included family, job satisfaction, lifestyle, career paths and training.
Associated publications:
Laurence C, Elliott T. Where to from here? Characteristics and career determinants of interns in South Australia in 2003. Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program, Department of General Practice, University of Adelaide, Rural Doctors Workforce Agency, June 2004
Laurence COM, Elliott T. The when, what and how South Australian Pre-registration junior medical officers’ career choices are made. Medical Education, 2007;41:467-475 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2929.2007.02728.x/full