Community based child health research in Sydney South West Area Health Service

Project Status
Completed

Chief Investigators
Elizabeth Comino, Lynn Kemp

Associate Investigators
Garth Alperstein, John Eastwood, Chris Rissel

Rationale

CHETRE is reviewing community based child health services (CBCHS) to identify research related activities. For the purposes of this work, research related activities included reflective practice, quality improvement, evaluation, and research activities in services that work in community settings. As a result of the merger of two area health services to form SSWAHS, a significant restructure of community and allied health services in the region has occurred. Identified similarities and differences in service structure and ways of working between and within previous organisational structures provides opportunities and barriers towards developing and implementing research related activities.

Aims

The aim of this project is to identify research related activities in SSWAHS; to identify the opportunities and barriers to developing these activities; and to identify a compendium of research related activities that could be undertaken during 2006.

Design and Method

A consultation with community based child health services has been undertaken. A consultation form was circulated via email, a number of individual and group discussions have occurred and the draft report has been circulated to participants for further comment. The report is due to be finalised in June 2006. A number of identified projects will be commenced.

Key Publications

Comino E, Kemp L. Research-related activities in community-based child health services.  Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2008. Aug;63(3):266-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04693.x.