Practice-based research network - a platform for designing, translating and implementing evidence informed care in primary health care'

Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs) are a valuable, yet in Australia an under-developed, platform that can improve the health of communities through the strengthening and scale-up of high quality primary care. Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs) are groups of clinicians, researchers, policy makers and consumers who come together to develop, design, undertake and report on research relevant to local primary care health needs. This proposal is an opportunity to build on an existing foundation within the Department of General Practice, Monash University (i.e. the Monash practice-based Research Network (MonReN) to fully realise the potential of this community based research network and to respond to emerging opportunities in data and data linkage to answer research questions of local, national and international importance.

The work will build a robust and transparent collaboration across the care continuum from community general practice to the tertiary system, and building the required infrastructure for long term sustainability. We will undertake a formative assessment informed by the principles of implementation science to assess factors that are likely to influence the success of this PBRN- Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) collaboration. This assessment will provide insights into a PBRN strategy for improving engagement between AHSC and community primary care placing MonReN and Monash Partners on the leading edge of research to improve the health of patients and communities.