What was the impact of a participatory research project in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare services? Applying a comprehensive framework for assessing translational health research to Lessons for the Best
Open Access
- 23 February 2021
- Vol. 11 (2), e040749
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040749
Abstract
Objectives To (1) apply the Framework to Assess the Impact from Translational health research (FAIT) to Lessons from the Best to Better the Rest (LFTB), (2) report on impacts from LFTB and (3) assess the feasibility and outcomes from a retrospective application of FAIT. Setting Three Indigenous primary healthcare (PHC) centres in the Northern Territory, Australia; project coordinating centre distributed between Townsville, Darwin and Cairns and the broader LFTB learning community across Australia. Participants LFTB research team and one representative from each PHC centre. Primary and secondary outcome measures Impact reported as (1) quantitative metrics within domains of benefit using a modified Payback Framework, (2) a cost-consequence analysis given a return on investment was not appropriate and (3) a narrative incorporating qualitative evidence of impact. Data were gathered through in-depth stakeholder interviews and a review of project documentation, outputs and relevant websites. Results LFTB contributed to knowledge advancement in Indigenous PHC service delivery; enhanced existing capacity of health centre staff, researchers and health service users; enhanced supportive networks for quality improvement; and used a strengths-based approach highly valued by health centres. LFTB also leveraged between $A1.4 and $A1.6 million for the subsequent Leveraging Effective Ambulatory Practice (LEAP) Project to apply LFTB learnings to resource development and creation of a learning community to empower striving PHC centres. Conclusion Retrospective application of FAIT to LFTB, although not ideal, was feasible. Prospective application would have allowed Indigenous community perspectives to be included. Greater appreciation of the full benefit of LFTB including a measure of return on investment will be possible when LEAP is complete. Future assessments of impact need to account for the limitations of fully capturing impact when intermediate/final impacts have not yet been realised and captured.This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Biomedical research: increasing value, reducing wasteThe Lancet, 2014
- Does Australia have the appropriate health reform agenda to close the gap in Indigenous health?Australian Health Review, 2013
- The answer is 17 years, what is the question: understanding time lags in translational researchJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 2011
- Metrics associated with NIH funding: a high-level viewJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 2011
- Study protocol: national research partnership to improve primary health care performance and outcomes for Indigenous peoplesBMC Health Services Research, 2010
- Let's make science metrics more scientificNature, 2010
- Desarrollo y aplicación del Modelo Payback para la evaluación del impacto socioeconómico de la investigación en saludMedicina Clinica, 2008
- Burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: the Indigenous health gapInternational Journal of Epidemiology, 2008
- Conceptual Model of Comprehensive Research Metrics for Improved Human Health and EnvironmentEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2008
- Contribution of Primary Care to Health Systems and HealthThe Milbank Quarterly, 2005