Strengthening primary health care : Building the capacity of rural communities to access health funding
- McDonald, John, Brown, Leann, Murphy, Angela
- Authors: McDonald, John , Brown, Leann , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian journal of rural health Vol. 10, no. 3 (2002), p. 173-177
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Present health funding models can place onerous pressures on rural health services. Staff may lack the time, resources, access to data, and the expertise needed to complete complex and lengthy funding submissions. This present study describes an innovative capacity-building approach to working with Victorian rural communities seeking to access health care funding through the Regional Health Services Program. This approach used several strategies: engaging stakeholders in targeted rural communities, developing an information kit and running a workshop on preparing submissions to the Regional Health Services Program, facilitating community consultations, and providing ongoing support with submissions. Six rural communities were supported in this way. Four have been funded to date, with a combined annual recurrent budget for new primary health care services of over $2.5 million. Each community has developed a service delivery model that meets the particular needs of their local area. This capacity-building approach is both effective and replicable to other health funding opportunities. The definitive version of this article is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
- Description: 2003000079
- Authors: McDonald, John , Brown, Leann , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian journal of rural health Vol. 10, no. 3 (2002), p. 173-177
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Present health funding models can place onerous pressures on rural health services. Staff may lack the time, resources, access to data, and the expertise needed to complete complex and lengthy funding submissions. This present study describes an innovative capacity-building approach to working with Victorian rural communities seeking to access health care funding through the Regional Health Services Program. This approach used several strategies: engaging stakeholders in targeted rural communities, developing an information kit and running a workshop on preparing submissions to the Regional Health Services Program, facilitating community consultations, and providing ongoing support with submissions. Six rural communities were supported in this way. Four have been funded to date, with a combined annual recurrent budget for new primary health care services of over $2.5 million. Each community has developed a service delivery model that meets the particular needs of their local area. This capacity-building approach is both effective and replicable to other health funding opportunities. The definitive version of this article is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
- Description: 2003000079
- Watson, Robert, McDonald, John, Pearce, Dora
- Authors: Watson, Robert , McDonald, John , Pearce, Dora
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Guidance & Counselling Vol. 34, no. 4 (Nov 2006), p. 471-482
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Lifeline Australia Inc. provides a free 24-hour telephone counselling and referral service to all Australians. The trained telephone counsellors of the service record information on many of their calls in Lifeline's Client Service Management Information System (CSMIS). This paper presents a descriptive summary of a national CSMIS data set, which was compiled during a 3-month period in 2003. The CSMIS data provided a clear national profile of the callers to the service. The results of this study support the hypothesis that callers are generally seeking social support from the service. The discussion explores the implications of this finding for Lifeline and other generalist counselling and referral services and their capacity to offer suicide intervention to the community.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001998
The accessibility/remoteness index of Australia (ARIA) and lifeline Australia's calls
- Watson, Robert, McDonald, John, Pearce, Dora
- Authors: Watson, Robert , McDonald, John , Pearce, Dora
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 8th National Rural Health Conference, Alice Springs : 10th - 13th March, 2005
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- Description: Nationally there are more than 50 member centres and sub-centres of Lifeline Australia’s telephone counselling and referral service, providing an equitable, free, anonymous, and highly accessible primary health resource. The accessibility of this service may mean that it has a particularly important role to play in contributing to the health and well-being of rural and remote Australians. The trained volunteer counsellors of the service receive more than 400 000 calls annually. Information on many of these calls is recorded by telephone counsellors in Lifeline’s Client Service Management Information System (CSMIS). The purpose of this study was to establish if a relationship between the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) and calls to Lifeline Australia could be found. Population standardised areal call rates to Lifeline Ballarat were compiled using Telstra exchange service area to test the hypothesis that a positive relationship between the call rates to the service and the ARIA would be found. 90 128 CSMIS cases from 2003 were examined to explore if any linear relationship between caller characteristics and a centre’s ARIA score were apparent. A number of significant associations with the ARIA scores and CSMIS call variables were observed. However, the hypothesis that a positive relationship between call rates to the service and the ARIA would be found was not supported. An important implication of this exploratory study is that Lifeline’s telephone counselling and referral service may need to be promoted more widely to rural clients and health care providers.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001236
- Authors: Watson, Robert , McDonald, John , Pearce, Dora
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 8th National Rural Health Conference, Alice Springs : 10th - 13th March, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Nationally there are more than 50 member centres and sub-centres of Lifeline Australia’s telephone counselling and referral service, providing an equitable, free, anonymous, and highly accessible primary health resource. The accessibility of this service may mean that it has a particularly important role to play in contributing to the health and well-being of rural and remote Australians. The trained volunteer counsellors of the service receive more than 400 000 calls annually. Information on many of these calls is recorded by telephone counsellors in Lifeline’s Client Service Management Information System (CSMIS). The purpose of this study was to establish if a relationship between the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) and calls to Lifeline Australia could be found. Population standardised areal call rates to Lifeline Ballarat were compiled using Telstra exchange service area to test the hypothesis that a positive relationship between the call rates to the service and the ARIA would be found. 90 128 CSMIS cases from 2003 were examined to explore if any linear relationship between caller characteristics and a centre’s ARIA score were apparent. A number of significant associations with the ARIA scores and CSMIS call variables were observed. However, the hypothesis that a positive relationship between call rates to the service and the ARIA would be found was not supported. An important implication of this exploratory study is that Lifeline’s telephone counselling and referral service may need to be promoted more widely to rural clients and health care providers.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001236
Place matters! Rural as an ‘enabling culture’ for female GPs
- Schwarz, Imogen, McDonald, John
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 9th National rural health conference: Standing up for rural health., Albury, Australia : March, 2007 p. 1-9
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003005837
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 9th National rural health conference: Standing up for rural health., Albury, Australia : March, 2007 p. 1-9
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003005837
Power and politics : A case study of the failure of an evidence-based practice project in two rural communities
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper reports on an evaluation of a two-year project aimed at implementing a multi-disciplinary, evidence-based approach to the management of back pain in two rural communities. The project attempted to address the significantly above-average rates of back pain admissions to the local hospitals
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000518
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper reports on an evaluation of a two-year project aimed at implementing a multi-disciplinary, evidence-based approach to the management of back pain in two rural communities. The project attempted to address the significantly above-average rates of back pain admissions to the local hospitals
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000518
Contestability and social justice : The limits of competitive tendering of welfare services
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Social Work Vol. 55 , no. 2 (2002), p. 99-108
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper critically analyses competitive tendering as a model for the provision of welfare services. Competitive tendering, driven by National Competition Policy and other imperatives for greater efficiency and a smaller public sector, is now used extensively by governments to fund welfare services. However, the suitability of this funding model to welfare services generally, and specifically welfare services in non·metropolitan areas, can be criticised on both theoretical and empirical grounds. Competitive tendering is grounded in economic rationalist, urbo-centric assumptions that are largely inappropriate for welfare provision, and have limited validity in rural areas. There is lillie rigorous empirical evidence of improved efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery under this model. Conversely, there is mounting evidence about the negative impacts. In rural areas this includes the erosion of community service obligations, less collaboration and greater secrecy between agencies, the reduction of choice, limited opportunities for local planning, cost shifting, and threats to continuity of care. This paper concludes with a call for greater application of the 'public benefit' test under the provisions of the National Competition Policy, and the development of more sophisticated frameworks for assessing the contestability of welfare services. Social workers have a leading role to play in challenging the dominant ideology of competition·orientated welfare reforms.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000195
Legitimating private interests: Hegemonic control over 'the public interest' in national competition policy
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sociology Vol. 43, no. 4 (2007), p. 349-366
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- Description: National Competition Policy (NCP), legislated in Australia in 1995, has arguably been the single most consequential economic policy over the past decade. Yet it has largely escaped sociological analysis. This article investigates how the concept of the public interest in NCP has actually had the effect of legitimizing neo-liberal ideologies concerning private, individual, economic interests. Using critical policy analysis, this article examines how this legitimization has occurred through: (1) the policy language of the public interest, and how this discourse has shifted over time; (2) the implementation of NCP, particularly the application of the public interest test; and (3) evidence proffered by dominant institutions about the social and economic distributional outcomes of NCP. This analysis demonstrates that the policy language and public discourse of the public interest has been used to secure hegemonic control to legitimate the interests of dominant groups. © 2007 the Australian Sociological Association.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005831
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sociology Vol. 43, no. 4 (2007), p. 349-366
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: National Competition Policy (NCP), legislated in Australia in 1995, has arguably been the single most consequential economic policy over the past decade. Yet it has largely escaped sociological analysis. This article investigates how the concept of the public interest in NCP has actually had the effect of legitimizing neo-liberal ideologies concerning private, individual, economic interests. Using critical policy analysis, this article examines how this legitimization has occurred through: (1) the policy language of the public interest, and how this discourse has shifted over time; (2) the implementation of NCP, particularly the application of the public interest test; and (3) evidence proffered by dominant institutions about the social and economic distributional outcomes of NCP. This analysis demonstrates that the policy language and public discourse of the public interest has been used to secure hegemonic control to legitimate the interests of dominant groups. © 2007 the Australian Sociological Association.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005831
Ballarat health consortium : A case study of influential factors in the development and maintenance of a health partnership
- McDonald, John, Murphy, Angela, Payne, Warren
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 7, no. 2 (2001), p. 75-82
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Intersectoral partnerships in health have a central role in current policy and programs. Partnerships are seen to be an effective strategy for maximising health outcomes. However, theoretical models of health partnerships are underdeveloped. Moreover, the research literature contains inconsistent findings about their effectiveness, and there has been very little evaluative research on health partnerships in this country. This paper reports on a case study of an intersectoral consortium using a health promotion approach to cardiovascular disease. A model of partnership formation and development is presented. From this, a research strategy was devised and carried out. Results indicate that the health consortium was formed inresponse to a critical health issue, and as a separate legal entity without recurrent funding, it has been sustained through the commitment of individual members. Project funding has, in large part, dictated its operations. The case study reveals the strengths, vulnnerabilities and achievements of this consortium over five years. To produce sustainable health outcomes, the researchers conclude, partnerships require strategic management to capitalise on individual endeavours, organisational alignments, and government or funder priorities. Ideological zeal for intersectoral health partnerships must be balanced by rigorous evaluation; together with more sophisticated indicators for measuring success in partnerships in health promotion. Theoretical development of models of health partnerships will also contribute to their enhanced effectiveness.
- Description: 2003004325
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 7, no. 2 (2001), p. 75-82
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Intersectoral partnerships in health have a central role in current policy and programs. Partnerships are seen to be an effective strategy for maximising health outcomes. However, theoretical models of health partnerships are underdeveloped. Moreover, the research literature contains inconsistent findings about their effectiveness, and there has been very little evaluative research on health partnerships in this country. This paper reports on a case study of an intersectoral consortium using a health promotion approach to cardiovascular disease. A model of partnership formation and development is presented. From this, a research strategy was devised and carried out. Results indicate that the health consortium was formed inresponse to a critical health issue, and as a separate legal entity without recurrent funding, it has been sustained through the commitment of individual members. Project funding has, in large part, dictated its operations. The case study reveals the strengths, vulnnerabilities and achievements of this consortium over five years. To produce sustainable health outcomes, the researchers conclude, partnerships require strategic management to capitalise on individual endeavours, organisational alignments, and government or funder priorities. Ideological zeal for intersectoral health partnerships must be balanced by rigorous evaluation; together with more sophisticated indicators for measuring success in partnerships in health promotion. Theoretical development of models of health partnerships will also contribute to their enhanced effectiveness.
- Description: 2003004325
Recruiting and retaining rural general practitioners : A mismatch between research evidence and current initiatives?
- McDonald, John, Bibby, Louise, Carroll, Steve
- Authors: McDonald, John , Bibby, Louise , Carroll, Steve
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Seventh National Rural Health Conference, Hobart : 1st - 4th March , 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper investigates the possible mismatch between current initiatives to attract and retain general practitioners (GPs) to rural areas, and Australian research evidence about the most significant factors affecting recruitment and retention. The results reported here are part of a broader project that aims to use evidence-based research to enhance rural GP workforce planning and management. This phase of the project analysed research reports evaluating the outcome of programs and services aimed at improving rural recruitment and retention. The search strategies for this review included: key word searches of electronic database publications over the last 15 years; hand searching of relevant journals; trawling websites of relevant organisations; and direct contact with relevant organisations to request copies of “grey” literature such as unpublished reports. A total of 22 Australian studies were identified that met these criteria. (It is acknowledged that many other initiatives have been tried, but evaluation reports for these do not exist or were not obtainable. Similarly, many other studies have examined recruitment or retention without evaluating workforce initiatives.) The 22 studies evaluated nine major recruitment and retention initiatives including: medical course admission criteria (2 studies); rural placements (7); student scholarships (1); financial incentives (2); continuing medical education (5); universitylinked rural practices (1); case management (1); and overseas-trained doctors (2); an community capacity-building (1). Demonstrating “causation” requires strong internal and external validity. Overall, however, there is not yet strong empirical evidence for the efficacy of the any of these initiatives. The methodological problems consistently identified in our analysis were: no use of comparison or control groups; an overreliance on surveys of GPs’ attitudes or intentions rather than actual behaviours; inconsistent definitions of key variables including “rural” and “retention”; inadequate sample sizes or unrepresentative samples and selection biases; inconsistent use of definitions of key variables including “rural” and “retention”; cross-sectional and retrospective designs; insufficient information on statistical analyses; and qualitative studies that did not formally and systematically apply techniques for strengthening credibility and transferability. Moreover, many of these initiatives do not appear to be closely aligned with the factors usually thought to influence recruitment or retention. The learnings from this project support the strategic and accessible use of evidencebased health care for rural workforce issues. Government departments and agencies should invest in rigorous evaluations that are then made publicly available. Policy and program development can benefit by drawing upon sound research knowledge. Rural communities can also become more informed and discerning consumers of this information.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000516
- Authors: McDonald, John , Bibby, Louise , Carroll, Steve
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Seventh National Rural Health Conference, Hobart : 1st - 4th March , 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper investigates the possible mismatch between current initiatives to attract and retain general practitioners (GPs) to rural areas, and Australian research evidence about the most significant factors affecting recruitment and retention. The results reported here are part of a broader project that aims to use evidence-based research to enhance rural GP workforce planning and management. This phase of the project analysed research reports evaluating the outcome of programs and services aimed at improving rural recruitment and retention. The search strategies for this review included: key word searches of electronic database publications over the last 15 years; hand searching of relevant journals; trawling websites of relevant organisations; and direct contact with relevant organisations to request copies of “grey” literature such as unpublished reports. A total of 22 Australian studies were identified that met these criteria. (It is acknowledged that many other initiatives have been tried, but evaluation reports for these do not exist or were not obtainable. Similarly, many other studies have examined recruitment or retention without evaluating workforce initiatives.) The 22 studies evaluated nine major recruitment and retention initiatives including: medical course admission criteria (2 studies); rural placements (7); student scholarships (1); financial incentives (2); continuing medical education (5); universitylinked rural practices (1); case management (1); and overseas-trained doctors (2); an community capacity-building (1). Demonstrating “causation” requires strong internal and external validity. Overall, however, there is not yet strong empirical evidence for the efficacy of the any of these initiatives. The methodological problems consistently identified in our analysis were: no use of comparison or control groups; an overreliance on surveys of GPs’ attitudes or intentions rather than actual behaviours; inconsistent definitions of key variables including “rural” and “retention”; inadequate sample sizes or unrepresentative samples and selection biases; inconsistent use of definitions of key variables including “rural” and “retention”; cross-sectional and retrospective designs; insufficient information on statistical analyses; and qualitative studies that did not formally and systematically apply techniques for strengthening credibility and transferability. Moreover, many of these initiatives do not appear to be closely aligned with the factors usually thought to influence recruitment or retention. The learnings from this project support the strategic and accessible use of evidencebased health care for rural workforce issues. Government departments and agencies should invest in rigorous evaluations that are then made publicly available. Policy and program development can benefit by drawing upon sound research knowledge. Rural communities can also become more informed and discerning consumers of this information.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000516
Moorabool Shire project : Stage 1 - Local area planning
- Blaskett, Beverley, Marshall, Craig, McDonald, John, Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Authors: Blaskett, Beverley , Marshall, Craig , McDonald, John , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Report
- Full Text:
- Description: This project was funded by the Victorian Government Department of Human Services and the Moorabool Shire Council and is currently being used to inform future health and welfare service provision in the Moorabool Shire.
- Description: K1
- Description: 2003002861
- Authors: Blaskett, Beverley , Marshall, Craig , McDonald, John , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Report
- Full Text:
- Description: This project was funded by the Victorian Government Department of Human Services and the Moorabool Shire Council and is currently being used to inform future health and welfare service provision in the Moorabool Shire.
- Description: K1
- Description: 2003002861
Power, status and marginalisation : Rural social workers and evidence-based practice in multidisciplinary teams
- McDonald, John, Murphy, Angela
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Social Work Vol. 57, no. 2 (2004), p. 127-136
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: 2003004268
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Social Work Vol. 57, no. 2 (2004), p. 127-136
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: 2003004268
Social support or structural change? Social work theory and research on care-giving
- Authors: McDonald, John , Dow, Briony
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Social Work Vol. 56, no. 3 (2003), p. 197-208
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Since 1980, national and international research knowledge on carers and care-giving has been accumulating. However, the theoretical bases of this research are usually unstated and implicit. Theory is vital in shaping social work research programs and types of social work intervention. This paper examines and critiques the social work theories influencing published social work research on care-giving. A search of key social work journals from 1980 to 2001 identified a total of 102 research articles about care-giving. The perspectives informing these articles fall into four groupings: positivist; interpretivist; systems; and feminist/radical. Building on the model developed by Howe (1987), which differentiates theories of radical change from those concerned with social regulation, each perspective is critically analysed for its underlying assumptions, level of analysis, research methodology and implications for policy and practice. Our review indicated that research on care-giving is dominated by a positivist approach that focuses on stress-coping and social support theories. These approaches are essentially individualistic, focus on the burden of care and prescribe interventions that assist carers to adjust to or cope with the care-giving role. Future social work research on care-giving should be informed by critical social work theories offering deeper structural analysis. This would be more consistent with our discipline's concern for social change and social justice.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000461
- Authors: McDonald, John , Dow, Briony
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Social Work Vol. 56, no. 3 (2003), p. 197-208
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Since 1980, national and international research knowledge on carers and care-giving has been accumulating. However, the theoretical bases of this research are usually unstated and implicit. Theory is vital in shaping social work research programs and types of social work intervention. This paper examines and critiques the social work theories influencing published social work research on care-giving. A search of key social work journals from 1980 to 2001 identified a total of 102 research articles about care-giving. The perspectives informing these articles fall into four groupings: positivist; interpretivist; systems; and feminist/radical. Building on the model developed by Howe (1987), which differentiates theories of radical change from those concerned with social regulation, each perspective is critically analysed for its underlying assumptions, level of analysis, research methodology and implications for policy and practice. Our review indicated that research on care-giving is dominated by a positivist approach that focuses on stress-coping and social support theories. These approaches are essentially individualistic, focus on the burden of care and prescribe interventions that assist carers to adjust to or cope with the care-giving role. Future social work research on care-giving should be informed by critical social work theories offering deeper structural analysis. This would be more consistent with our discipline's concern for social change and social justice.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000461
Neo-liberalism and the pathologising of public issues: The displacement of feminist service models in domestic violence support services
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Social Work Vol. 58 , no. 3 (2005), p. 275-284
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Using domestic violence support services as a case study, this paper examines how the ascendancy of neo-liberalism has individualised and pathologised public issues. Four perspectives are identified that have been influential in understanding the causes of domestic violence, determining responses to it and measuring the effectiveness of support services. These four perspectives may be categorised as: (i) victim-blaming; (ii) social movement; (iii) empowerment; and (iv) pathologising. From analysing the standard outcome measures currently used for government-funded accommodation programs, the author contends that the pathologising perspective dominates. This is partly attributable to the inherent methodological and ethical issues in evaluating programs of this nature. However, it is primarily driven by the ascendancy of a neoliberal, managerialist ideology that has depoliticised and clinicalised domestic violence. This has effectively silenced structural analyses of domestic violence and displaced feminist service models.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001234
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Social Work Vol. 58 , no. 3 (2005), p. 275-284
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Using domestic violence support services as a case study, this paper examines how the ascendancy of neo-liberalism has individualised and pathologised public issues. Four perspectives are identified that have been influential in understanding the causes of domestic violence, determining responses to it and measuring the effectiveness of support services. These four perspectives may be categorised as: (i) victim-blaming; (ii) social movement; (iii) empowerment; and (iv) pathologising. From analysing the standard outcome measures currently used for government-funded accommodation programs, the author contends that the pathologising perspective dominates. This is partly attributable to the inherent methodological and ethical issues in evaluating programs of this nature. However, it is primarily driven by the ascendancy of a neoliberal, managerialist ideology that has depoliticised and clinicalised domestic violence. This has effectively silenced structural analyses of domestic violence and displaced feminist service models.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001234
The invisible contract: Shifting care from the hospital to the home
- Authors: Dow, Briony , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Health Review Vol. 31, no. 2 (May 2007), p. 193-202
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The ageing population and associated burgeoning health care costs have resulted in a shift of care from institutional settings to home and community-based care. As one example, rehabilitation-in-the-home (RITH) programs are becoming increasingly prevalent. These programs either substitute or supplement in-hospital treatment by providing multidisciplinary rehabilitation and support services in the client's own home. This paper investigates the impact of RITH programs on informal carers. Semi-structured interviews carried out with caregivers and staff revealed a complex and contradictory interpretation of informal caring. Analysis of carers' interviews revealed: an assumption by themselves and others (including RITH staff) that they would provide care; the intimate, arduous and relentless work of caring; lack of consultation about discharge; lack of recognition and reimbursement; and low levels of program support for them as carers. Carers are integral to the successful rehabilitation of the client, but they occupy a marginal status within the program. An invisible contract consigns to them substantial care-work that was previously provided by the hospital. Informal carers in RITH programs can be seen as disenfranchised care contractors. This has implications for policy makers, program managers and researchers.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005828
- Authors: Dow, Briony , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Health Review Vol. 31, no. 2 (May 2007), p. 193-202
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The ageing population and associated burgeoning health care costs have resulted in a shift of care from institutional settings to home and community-based care. As one example, rehabilitation-in-the-home (RITH) programs are becoming increasingly prevalent. These programs either substitute or supplement in-hospital treatment by providing multidisciplinary rehabilitation and support services in the client's own home. This paper investigates the impact of RITH programs on informal carers. Semi-structured interviews carried out with caregivers and staff revealed a complex and contradictory interpretation of informal caring. Analysis of carers' interviews revealed: an assumption by themselves and others (including RITH staff) that they would provide care; the intimate, arduous and relentless work of caring; lack of consultation about discharge; lack of recognition and reimbursement; and low levels of program support for them as carers. Carers are integral to the successful rehabilitation of the client, but they occupy a marginal status within the program. An invisible contract consigns to them substantial care-work that was previously provided by the hospital. Informal carers in RITH programs can be seen as disenfranchised care contractors. This has implications for policy makers, program managers and researchers.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005828
Dimensions of pastoral care: Student wellbeing in rural Catholic schools
- Ollerenshaw, Alison, McDonald, John
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , McDonald, John
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 12, no. 2 (2006), p. 137-145
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper investigates the health and welfare needs of students (n = 15,806) and the current service model in Catholic schools in the Ballarat Diocese of Victoria, Australia. Catholic schools use a service model underpinned by an ethos of pastoral care; there is a strong tradition of self-reliance within the Catholic education system for meeting students' health and welfare needs. The central research questions are: What are the emerging health and welfare needs of students? How does pastoral care shape the service model to meet these needs? What model/s might better meet students' primary health care needs? The research methods involved analysis of(1) extant databases of expressed service needs including referrals (n = 1,248) to Student Services over the last 2.5 years, (2) trends in the additional funding support such as special needs funding for students and the Education Maintenance Allowance for families, and (3) semi-structured individual and group interviews with 98 Diocesan and school staff responsible for meeting students' health and welfare needs. Analysis of expressed service needs revealed a marked increase in service demand, and in the complexity and severity of students' needs. Thematic analysis of qualitative interview data revealed five pressing issues: the health and welfare needs of students; stressors in the school community; rural isolation; role boundaries and individualised interventions; and self-reliant networks of care. Explanations for many of these problems can be located in wider social and economic forces impacting upon the church and rural communities. It was concluded that the pastoral care model-as it is currently configured-is not equipped to meet the escalating primary health care needs of students in rural areas. This paper considers the implications for enhanced primary health care in both rural communities and in schools.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001995
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , McDonald, John
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 12, no. 2 (2006), p. 137-145
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper investigates the health and welfare needs of students (n = 15,806) and the current service model in Catholic schools in the Ballarat Diocese of Victoria, Australia. Catholic schools use a service model underpinned by an ethos of pastoral care; there is a strong tradition of self-reliance within the Catholic education system for meeting students' health and welfare needs. The central research questions are: What are the emerging health and welfare needs of students? How does pastoral care shape the service model to meet these needs? What model/s might better meet students' primary health care needs? The research methods involved analysis of(1) extant databases of expressed service needs including referrals (n = 1,248) to Student Services over the last 2.5 years, (2) trends in the additional funding support such as special needs funding for students and the Education Maintenance Allowance for families, and (3) semi-structured individual and group interviews with 98 Diocesan and school staff responsible for meeting students' health and welfare needs. Analysis of expressed service needs revealed a marked increase in service demand, and in the complexity and severity of students' needs. Thematic analysis of qualitative interview data revealed five pressing issues: the health and welfare needs of students; stressors in the school community; rural isolation; role boundaries and individualised interventions; and self-reliant networks of care. Explanations for many of these problems can be located in wider social and economic forces impacting upon the church and rural communities. It was concluded that the pastoral care model-as it is currently configured-is not equipped to meet the escalating primary health care needs of students in rural areas. This paper considers the implications for enhanced primary health care in both rural communities and in schools.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001995
Still on the outer edges? Progress towards and prospects for the development of a rural and remote evidence base for clinical practice
- McDonald, John, Murphy, Angela
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 8th National Rural Health Conference, Alice Springs, Australia : 10th - 13th March, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: One of the most significant issues in clinical practice for rural and remote Australia is the need for improved evidence about the most effective and appropriate interventions. Clinical research is fundamental to effective evidence-based practice. This paper assesses the extent to which an Australian rural evidence base for clinical practice has emerged over the past five years. The methodology for this study involves an analysis of one input (research funding) and one output (published evidence) concerning Australian research that specifically addresses rural health issues and includes rural, regional and/or remote populations in clinical research. The first project involves the analysis of extant databases of rural clinical research funding and funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) research allocated during the period 2000 to 2004 by two major national organisations: the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS). Data are analysed in terms of the number of grants allocated and the level of funding. The results show that, of the 5995 grants (exceeding $1.3 billion) awarded by the NHMRC, only 126 grants (2.1%) amounting to $21 million (1.6% of the total dollars) were allocated to rural/regional/remote and ATSI research. NICS has funded one rural/remote clinical research project, and has commissioned a literature review and conducted a workshop on the use of evidence by rural and remote health practitioners.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001235
- Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 8th National Rural Health Conference, Alice Springs, Australia : 10th - 13th March, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: One of the most significant issues in clinical practice for rural and remote Australia is the need for improved evidence about the most effective and appropriate interventions. Clinical research is fundamental to effective evidence-based practice. This paper assesses the extent to which an Australian rural evidence base for clinical practice has emerged over the past five years. The methodology for this study involves an analysis of one input (research funding) and one output (published evidence) concerning Australian research that specifically addresses rural health issues and includes rural, regional and/or remote populations in clinical research. The first project involves the analysis of extant databases of rural clinical research funding and funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) research allocated during the period 2000 to 2004 by two major national organisations: the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS). Data are analysed in terms of the number of grants allocated and the level of funding. The results show that, of the 5995 grants (exceeding $1.3 billion) awarded by the NHMRC, only 126 grants (2.1%) amounting to $21 million (1.6% of the total dollars) were allocated to rural/regional/remote and ATSI research. NICS has funded one rural/remote clinical research project, and has commissioned a literature review and conducted a workshop on the use of evidence by rural and remote health practitioners.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001235
The biggest challenge? : Recognition of gambling as a public issue
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2009
- Type: Journal article
- Relation: Gambling Research: Journal of the National Association for Gambling Studies (Australia) Vol. 21, no. 1 (2009), p. 47-50
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0989647
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Some of the biggest challenges that face gambling research in Australia are discussed. The need is for advocacy and action groups and researchers to work at shaping gambling as a public issue.
- Authors: McDonald, John
- Date: 2009
- Type: Journal article
- Relation: Gambling Research: Journal of the National Association for Gambling Studies (Australia) Vol. 21, no. 1 (2009), p. 47-50
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0989647
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Some of the biggest challenges that face gambling research in Australia are discussed. The need is for advocacy and action groups and researchers to work at shaping gambling as a public issue.
A rural perspective of telephone counselling and referral
- Watson, Robert, McDonald, John
- Authors: Watson, Robert , McDonald, John
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 10, no. 2 (2004), p. 97-103
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- Reviewed:
- Description: A telephone survey was used to examine rural residents' (n=102) perceptions and knowledge of a well-established national telephone counselling and referral service-Lifeline. Residents in rural Australia experience generally poorer access and availability to health-related services than their metropolitan counterparts. They may also have problems with confidentiality and stigmatisation in using what services are available in their area. Although this was a non-comparative study, it was reasoned that these barriers to help-seeking in rural areas would mean their population would know and value a service such as Lifeline, which provides equitable and anonymous support and referrals to all Australians. The results showed that the service was known, valued, and supported strongly by the respondents. The findings supported the belief that telephone counselling and referral has an important and unique place in rural health support and referral.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000949
- Authors: Watson, Robert , McDonald, John
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 10, no. 2 (2004), p. 97-103
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: A telephone survey was used to examine rural residents' (n=102) perceptions and knowledge of a well-established national telephone counselling and referral service-Lifeline. Residents in rural Australia experience generally poorer access and availability to health-related services than their metropolitan counterparts. They may also have problems with confidentiality and stigmatisation in using what services are available in their area. Although this was a non-comparative study, it was reasoned that these barriers to help-seeking in rural areas would mean their population would know and value a service such as Lifeline, which provides equitable and anonymous support and referrals to all Australians. The results showed that the service was known, valued, and supported strongly by the respondents. The findings supported the belief that telephone counselling and referral has an important and unique place in rural health support and referral.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000949
An evaluation of the CAST program using a conceptual model of school-based implementation
- Corboy, Denise, McDonald, John
- Authors: Corboy, Denise , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health Vol. 6, no. 1 (2007), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Therapeutic prevention and/or early intervention programs for children at risk of developing disruptive behaviour disorders are increasingly being implemented in schools. One such Australian school-based program is CAST: CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and Schools Together, an evidenced-based program treating children with emerging disruptive behaviour disorders in the early primary school years. The current evaluation examines the process of implementation of the CAST program in primary schools. By using a conceptual model of school-based implementation (developed by Greenberg, Domitrovich, Graczyk & Zins, 2005) the wide array of factors that can affect successful implementation at the school level were identified, and those elements critical to implementation quality were examined. Semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted with a sample of 69 school personnel across 16 schools in the City of Ballarat and wider Grampians region of Victoria, in both government and Catholic primary schools. Results showed that schools were highly satisfied with the quality of CAST resources and personnel, and the implementation and delivery of sessions as planned. Aspects that impacted negatively on the implementation process were the lack of parental engagement; the lack of classroom follow-up in some schools; the level of readiness and pre-planning by the schools; and the availability of technical support. Greenberg’s conceptual model appears to be a useful framework to utilise in examining the implementation of the CAST model, as it allowed close examination of how the program was implemented within naturally occurring constraints. It allowed the identification of elements within the CAST model and the associated support system that must be maintained and nurtured by the collaborating parties, in addition to the factors at a school level that are potential barriers to effective implementation. Identification and examination of such factors assist in ensuring quality outcomes for school-based interventions in the future.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005834
- Authors: Corboy, Denise , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health Vol. 6, no. 1 (2007), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Therapeutic prevention and/or early intervention programs for children at risk of developing disruptive behaviour disorders are increasingly being implemented in schools. One such Australian school-based program is CAST: CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and Schools Together, an evidenced-based program treating children with emerging disruptive behaviour disorders in the early primary school years. The current evaluation examines the process of implementation of the CAST program in primary schools. By using a conceptual model of school-based implementation (developed by Greenberg, Domitrovich, Graczyk & Zins, 2005) the wide array of factors that can affect successful implementation at the school level were identified, and those elements critical to implementation quality were examined. Semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted with a sample of 69 school personnel across 16 schools in the City of Ballarat and wider Grampians region of Victoria, in both government and Catholic primary schools. Results showed that schools were highly satisfied with the quality of CAST resources and personnel, and the implementation and delivery of sessions as planned. Aspects that impacted negatively on the implementation process were the lack of parental engagement; the lack of classroom follow-up in some schools; the level of readiness and pre-planning by the schools; and the availability of technical support. Greenberg’s conceptual model appears to be a useful framework to utilise in examining the implementation of the CAST model, as it allowed close examination of how the program was implemented within naturally occurring constraints. It allowed the identification of elements within the CAST model and the associated support system that must be maintained and nurtured by the collaborating parties, in addition to the factors at a school level that are potential barriers to effective implementation. Identification and examination of such factors assist in ensuring quality outcomes for school-based interventions in the future.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005834
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