Trial of SNAP in two divisions of general practice

Project Status
Completed

Project Coordinator
Coletta Hobbs

Chief Investigators
Mark Harris, Gawaine Powell Davies

Associate Investigators
Cheryl Amoroso

Rationale

SNAP is an initiative of the Australian government arising from the work of the Joint Advisory Group on General Practice and Population Health. It focuses on supporting preventive interventions focusing on the four key behavioural risk factors for chronic disease in the Australian Population – smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity.

Aim

To evaluate the capacity of Divisions of General Practice in collaboration with other services to support general practice to improve the frequency and quality of their interventions to change SNAP risk factors.

Design and Method

The SNAP implementation trial was conducted in Sutherland and Hastings Macleay Divisions of General Practice during 2003 and 2004. The intervention involved establishing systems and referral networks, training of GP staff and facilitation of improved care throgh practice visits. The evaluation included qualitative and quantitative methods to assess implementation and acceptability, barriers and facilitators, reported changes in practices.

Key Publications

1. Harris M. SNAP and Divisions of General Practice. National Networks. Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. December 2002; 37: 6.

2. Harris MF. Ringing in the new year with the SNAP behavioural risk factors in general practice. Australian Family Physician 2003; 32: 5

3. Amoroso C, Hobbs C, Harris MF. General Practice capacity for behavioural risk factor management: a snap-shot of a needs assessment in Australia. Journal of Primary Health Australia 2005; 11.: 120-127

4. Harris MF, Hobbs C, Powell Davies G, Simpson S, Bernard D, Stubbs A. Implementation of a SNAP intervention in two divisions of general practice: a feasibility study. MJA 2005; 183: s54-s58

5. Harris MF and Powell Davies G. SNAP: a journey from research to policy to implementation and back. NSW Public Health Bulletin Nov Dec 2005: 16: 195-199

6. Bernard D, Hobbs C, Powell Davies G and Harris MF. Consumer attitudes to general practice intervention for smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity. J of Health Issues Autumn 2006; 86: 33-36

7. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical activity: A population health guide to behavioural risk factors for general practices. October 2004 ISBN 0 86906 265 4 .

8. Furler J, Harris MF, Litt J, McKenzie S, Monheit B. Preventive health for Parsons J (Ed) CHECK program of self assessment. RACGP 2005