Clinical Research in General Practice and Primary Care

Unit Code

00104

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Department of General Practice
The University of Melbourne
200 Berkeley Street
Carlton
Victoria 3054 Australia

tel: +61 3 8344 7276
fax: +61 3 9347 6136
web: www.gp.unimelb.edu.au

Unit Points

Research Points: 87.5

Coursework Points: 12.5

top of page

Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Dr Meredith Temple-Smith
Department of General Practice
200 Berkeley St
Carlton
Victoria 3053 Australia

tel: +61 3 8344 3371
fax: +61 3 9347 6136
email: m.temple-smith@unimelb.edu.au

top of page

Overall Objectives

This unit will provide students with an opportunity to experience clinical research as it is conducted in the primary care setting.Our research focuses on common conditions such as depression, diabetes, asthma, cancer, and hypertension. However, there are a number of emerging areas of research within the department, including complementary therapy, sexual health, in particular chlamydia, and hepatitis C. We use a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods and our research incorporates psychological, social and cultural issues as they affect illness and health.

As an AMS student within the Primary Care Research Unit you can either complete a specific research project based in a general practice or community health centre, or become a member of one of our research teams. A supportive supervisor will be allocated, who will guide you in your choice of research question, the literature review, the choice of research method and data analysis. Whether you choose to be based outside the Department or within it, an opportunity will be provided for you to participate in answering an important clinical question. The types of projects available for 2009 will include involvement in a trial examining domestic violence and partner abuse; investigation of Vitamin D deficiency in refugees, examination of issues around illness prevention and health promotion in general practice, amongst young people, those with chronic disease, and those with depression. You may even have a research idea of your own you would like to investigate!

So, think about joining us if you:

• Would like to research a common problem
• Would like to find out what it is like to work as an academic and a doctor
• Have an interest in interacting with people

top of page

Content

Coursework: Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics OR Qualitative Health Research as appropriate to the project selected.

Research: The student will conduct a supervised project in a private general practice or primary care location (e.g. community health centres, hospital-based primary care clinics and Divisions of General Practice) to gain hands-on experience of the approaches necessary in this particular setting.

The department has a number of projects from which students may select.
Please also visit our website for further information www.gp.unimelb.edu.au

Sample Research Topics:

1. Youth Health Research Project
2. Mental Health Research Project
3. Diabetes Research Project

top of page

Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 87.5 points
Research Report (up to 9,000 words): 80%
Literature review during semester 6, which will be evaluated by the supervisor (1000 words) :10%
Oral presentation of research findings in the department in semester 7 (15 minute presentation): 10%
Regular group sessions with other students enrolled in the unit throughout Semester 6 & 7

Coursework Component: 12.5 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics or Qualitative Health Research will be assessed as per subject description

top of page

Student Numbers

Number of places available:
5