Current Projects

A cost analysis for teaching in urban and rural general practice (2011)

Investigators: Caroline Laurence, Maryanne Coombs, Linda Black and Janice Gill

Funded by AOGP and WAGPET

This study builds on the research on the costs and benefits of teaching in private general practice.  This study combines data from South Australian and Western Australian teaching practice to determine if there are differences in the costs and benefits of teaching in an urban setting versus a rural setting.

Traits in training for rural general practitioners (TnT) (2011-2013)

Investigators: Diann Eley, Caroline Laurence, David Wilkinson, Lucie Walters, Claude Cloninger, Janet Young, Scott Kitchener, Linda Black, Maryanne Coombs

Funded by ARC Linkage Grant

The primary aim of this research is to establish a better understanding of the individual attributes of temperament and character that are conducive to registrars choosing a rural training pathway and subsequently practising medicine in a rural location.  Identifying and understanding the dominant traits and personal temperament and character profiles of doctors in rural medicine will add to our knowledge of what makes rural doctors “tick‟ and enable Regional Training Providers (RTPs) who provide general practice training, to better target and tailor rural medical training to meet their needs.

An exploration of initial and ongoing training available to rural GP proceduralists (2011)

Investigators: Ben Abbott, Taryn Elliott

Funded by AOGP

To date, there has not been any previous research to map the different pathways to initial training and ongoing support for rural GP proceduralists. The aim of this research is to audit this process across GP proceduralists within SA, and to identify from their perspectives the benefits and limitations of the current models of training.  Using a qualitative approach all rural GP proceduralist in SA will be approached to be interviewed about their training and ideas for ongoing support.