Optometry Australia Scope of Practice Survey 2015.

Background: This paper presents results from the inaugural Scope of Practice Survey of Optometry Australia members conducted in October 2015. The survey gathered information related to confidence in detecting and diagnosing key ocular conditions, grading diabetic retinopathy, prescribing scheduled medicines, access to equipment, confidence using equipment, incidence of patients requiring therapeutic management, referral practices and services provided.

Methods: The survey was developed, piloted, modified and administered to members of Optometry Australia (excluding student and retired members), who had a current email address.

Pathways to research impact in primary healthcare: What do Australian primary healthcare researchers believe works best to facilitate the use of their research findings?

Background: Primary healthcare researchers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable and lasting improvement in clinical practice and healthcare policy as a result of their work. It is therefore important to understand the effectiveness of the research dissemination strategies used. The aim of this paper is to describe the pathways for research impact that have been achieved across several government-funded primary healthcare projects, and the effectiveness of these methods as perceived by their Chief Investigators.

Surviving or thriving in the primary health care research workforce: the Australian experience.

Primary healthcare research strives for high-quality, priority-driven research to inform policy and practice. This relies on a robust and sustainable workforce to tackle complex problems faced in primary health care locally and globally. The current study investigated characteristics, experiences and career paths of the Australian primary healthcare research workforce.

The contribution of a knowledge exchange organisation in primary healthcare.

Background: The use of relevant quality research and evidence to inform policy and practice is complex, takes time and requires skill. Over the past 20 years, a knowledge exchange organisation (the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service [PHCRIS]) has developed, implemented and evaluated ways to accelerate the use of research and evidence to strengthen Australian primary healthcare and thereby enhance health.

Objective: This paper outlines how PHCRIS operates to accelerate the use of research and evidence in primary healthcare policy and practice.

Australian academic primary health-care careers: a scoping survey.

This study was undertaken to provide a snapshot of the academic primary health-care workforce in Australia and to provide some insight into research capacity in academic primary health care following changes to funding for this sector. A convenience sample of individuals self-identifying as working within academic primary health care (n=405) completed an anonymous online survey. Respondents were identified from several academic primary health-care mailing lists.

Facilitating access to evidence: Primary Health Care Search Filter.

Background: The evidence base developed by, and relevant to, primary health care (PHC) is rapidly increasing. With the wealth of literature available, searchers trying to find PHC-specific citations can feel overwhelmed.

Objectives: Flinders Filters and the Primary Health Care Research & Information Service collaborated to develop a search filter enabling efficient and effective retrieval of relevant PHC literature.

A survey of child care centers about breastfeeding support in Adelaide, South Australia.

Background: Australia has high rates of breastfeeding initiation, with a consistent decline over the first year. Furthermore, there is a growing trend of maternal employment and rising numbers of children enrolled in different types of child care services, both of which can have a negative impact on breastfeeding.

Objectives: To provide evidence to better inform implementation of breastfeeding-friendly strategies in child care settings, this study examined breastfeeding policy and practice in child care centers in metropolitan Adelaide.

The contribution of Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development-supported research to primary health care policy and practice.

The importance of primary health care (PHC) research is well understood yet conducting this research can be challenging. Barriers include a lack of funding, support and opportunity. In 2000 the Australian government introduced the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) Strategy to address the gap in high-quality research.

Breastfeeding support in child care: an international comparison of findings from Australia and the United States.

Introduction: Many women in industrialized countries return to work while their children are infants. This is often associated with decreased breastfeeding duration or exclusivity. In order to better understand the breastfeeding support activities in childcare settings, studies were undertaken in settings with very different levels of infant mortality, breastfeeding, and breastfeeding support: Adelaide, Australia, and Wake County, North Carolina.

What research impacts do Australian primary health care researchers expect and achieve?

Background: Funding for research is under pressure to be accountable in terms of benefits and translation of research findings into practice and policy. Primary health care research has considerable potential to improve health care in a wide range of settings, but little is known about the extent to which these impacts actually occur. This study examines the impact of individual primary health care research projects on policy and practice from the perspective of Chief Investigators (CIs).

Analysis of breastfeeding policies and practices in childcare centres in Adelaide, South Australia.

Breastfeeding policies and practices were analysed in childcare settings in the metropolitan area of Adelaide, South Australia. Childcare centres were purposively selected based on their geographical location, type and socioeconomic score of the area. Qualitative inquiry approach was employed by undertaking interviews with childcare centres' director or baby house coordinator to explore their perception towards breastfeeding practice and support within their centre.

Researcher development program of the primary health care research, evaluation and development strategy.

The Research Development Program (RDP) was initiated in 2004 under the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) Strategy to increase the number and range of people with knowledge and skills in primary health care research and evaluation. RDP Fellows were invited to participate in an online survey about the effect the program had on their research knowledge, attitudes and practice. The response rate was 42% (105/248).

The impact of breastfeeding--translating recent evidence for practice.

Background: Recent research is improving our understanding of how breastfeeding influences long term health and development.

Objective: This article summarises research published from 2004 to 2009 relating to breastfeeding of healthy full term infants to selected outcomes of public health relevance and community interest: intelligence quotient, anthropometry and cardiovascular health.

Discussion: Evidence from a large cluster randomised trial shows breastfeeding is associated with higher intelligence quotient at 6 years of age.

The feasibility of determining the impact of primary health care research projects using the Payback Framework.

Background: Primary health care research is under pressure to be accountable to funders in terms of benefits for practice and policy. However, methods to assess the impact of primary health care research must be appropriate to use with the diverse topics, settings and approaches of this sector. This project explored the feasibility of using the Buxton and Hanney Payback Framework to determine the impact of a stratified random sample (n = 4) of competitively funded, primary health care research projects.

How to conduct effective skill building workshops.

Skill building workshops need to be successful learning events that provide value for money. The strategies in this article are based on a review of the literature and evaluations received from workshop participants who have attended the many workshops conducted as part of the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) strategy.

Who supports breastfeeding?

'Breastfeeding is best for baby' is the view supported by many health organisations including Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This literature review of both quantitative and qualitative studies was conducted to determine who supports women to breastfeed successfully in the current environment. Results indicated that fathers, other family members and friends can have a significant impact in supporting breastfeeding if they are positive about breastfeeding and have the skills to support breastfeeding.

Improving community acceptance of breastfeeding in public: a collaborative approach.

This project, conducted from 2001 to 2003, reports the results of an action research plan aimed to improve community acceptability of breastfeeding in public through the accreditation and promotion of breastfeeding-friendly venues in Australia. The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) along with other breastfeeding support groups, the media, community groups and organisations have collaborated on this project to promote and distribute over 17 000 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' kits. The strong links established with ABA and the use of their logo have assisted in promotion of the kit and enabled the initiative to be sustainable beyond the project.

Convening a conference--facilitating networking among delegates.

This article provides conference convenors and delegates with suggestions to enhance networking by delegates attending conferences. Our suggestions are based on a literature search (which revealed very little); what we have found to work well at the research conferences we have convened; conference evaluations; and our experiences at conferences we have attended.

Publishing in peer review journals--criteria for success.

Peer review papers contribute to the body of knowledge that forms the evidence on which best practice is based. Publishing facilitates knowledge sharing, thereby enabling individuals and organisations to contribute to the body of evidence on best practice.