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Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care

Australian Journal of Primary Health

Australian Journal of Primary Health

Australian Journal of Primary Health publishes contributions on the theory and evidence-based practise of community health services and primary health care. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: Virginia Lewis and Liz Sturgiss

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Australian Journal of Primary Health is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 14 April 2025

PY24223Leading the way: the contribution of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations to community health in Australia

Tamara Mackean, Toby Freeman 0000-0002-2787-8580, Connie Musolino, Denise Fry, Colin MacDougall, Virginia Lewis 0000-0001-7802-625X and Fran Baum
 

The Aboriginal community controlled health organisation sector in Australia emerged from social movements for Aboriginal self-determination before the Declaration of the Alma Ata, developing a model of community health that was community led, provided holistic care and took action on social determinants of health. Our findings from interviews with community health actors since the 1970s documented these strengths, and how they influenced generalist community health. The sector remains a strong example of community health relevant to all Australians.

This article belongs to the collection: Models of Community Health in Action.

Published online 14 April 2025

PY24098The role of general practice to address the supportive care needs of Australian cancer survivors: a qualitative study

Olivia Bellas 0000-0002-7067-6925, Emma Kemp 0000-0001-5664-8031, Jackie Roseleur 0000-0003-4990-1312, Laura C. Edney 0000-0002-2447-4118, Candice Oster 0000-0002-8214-3704 and Jonathan Karnon 0000-0003-3220-2099
 

Cancer survivors in Australia often face ongoing physical, emotional, and practical challenges, yet their supportive care needs are not consistently met in general practice. This study highlights key barriers for general practitioners and nurses, including limited time, lack of clear processes, and poor communication between healthcare providers, while identifying solutions such as better training, improved information sharing, and greater support for nurses. Strengthening these areas could enhance care, improving quality of life and long-term health outcomes for cancer survivors.

Published online 31 March 2025

PY24169Contraceptive counselling in regions of Victoria with high incidence of teenage pregnancy: general practitioners’ insights

Jessica R. Botfield, Greasha Rathnasekara, Danielle Mazza, Elodie Bernard and Cathy J. Watson
 

We interviewed 18 GPs from regions in Victoria, Australia, with teenage pregnancy rates higher than the state average regarding their experiences of contraceptive counselling. GP participants recognised an unmet need for contraception information and care among teenagers in their region. Facilitating access to all methods of effective contraception for teenagers will require addressing misunderstandings among GPs regarding the suitability of intrauterine devices (IUDs) and increasing the number of IUD-inserting GPs. Normalising contraception discussions as part of routine care for teenagers will further support decision making and uptake.

Published online 27 March 2025

PY25009Health promotion activities in Ontario Community Health Centres: a descriptive report

Sara Bhatti and Jennifer Rayner
 

Health promotion as an upstream approach can relieve pressure on the healthcare system, reduce disease prevalence and health inequities all while being cost-effective. Community Health Centres (CHCs) in Ontario, Canada have been delivering health promotion programming as part of their model of comprehensive primary health care to communities for decades. However, greater investments in health promotion are needed if we want to support and sustain our healthcare systems.

This article belongs to the collection: Models of Community Health in Action.

Published online 27 March 2025

PY24142Factors influencing uptake and sustained utility of HealthPathways in Australian general practice: a qualitative study

Susan Saldanha 0000-0002-6699-3688, Riki Lane 0000-0002-3334-5545, Sharon Clifford, Prisha Dadoo, Chris Barton 0000-0001-9823-7425 and Grant Russell 0000-0003-3773-2355
 

General practitioners rely on fast, trustworthy guidance to make clinical decisions, and HealthPathways is one tool designed to help. This study explored why some doctors use it regularly while others don’t, uncovering gaps in awareness, mixed motivations, and technical barriers that affect its usefulness. The findings point to the need for better system design and stronger support to help digital tools like HealthPathways become a routine part of patient care.

Published online 24 March 2025

PY24132Developing a preconception medical record audit tool for general practice: a multimethod study

Nishadi N. Withanage, Jessica R. Botfield, Sharon James, Kirsten I. Black, Sharon Cameron and Danielle Mazza
 

Primary care can provide preconception care (PCC) to address behavioural, biomedical, and social risks, improving pregnancy outcomes. PCC could be more effective if electronic medical records identified at-risk patients. There is limited evidence on which preconception risk factors are documented in general practice records. Our study’s tool enables researchers to audit these records, improving understanding of documentation quality. It also supports developing a screening process using existing tools to identify women who would benefit most from PCC.

Published online 18 March 2025

PY24194Community health in Victoria: a history of challenges, adaptations and potential

Virginia Lewis 0000-0001-7802-625X, Jennifer Macmillan, T. McBride and David Legge
 

A community health program was introduced in Australia 50 years ago, but Victoria is the only state that still maintains such a program. Through interviews with people involved in the sector over this time, the review of key documents and personal experience, we consider how the aspirations and commitment of the early pioneers have survived (and struggled to survive) political and social pressures over time. Additionally, we discuss ways to ensure a robust community health sector going forward.

This article belongs to the collection: Models of Community Health in Action.

Published online 13 March 2025

PY24178Perceptions and willingness concerning the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data in Australian healthcare services

Daniel Demant 0000-0003-3330-2972, Paul Byron, Deborah Debono, Suneel Jethani, Beth Goldblatt, Michael Thomson and Jo (River) River
 

This study explores the perceptions and willingness of Australian healthcare service users to provide sexual orientation and gender identity data. Findings reveal varying levels of willingness based on demographic factors and context, with LGBTQA+ participants showing a preference for inclusive collection methods. The study highlights the importance of sensitive and affirming approaches to sexual orientation and gender identity data collection to improve healthcare experiences and outcomes for diverse populations, informing policies for more inclusive healthcare practices.

Published online 06 March 2025

PY24104Mental health consumers and primary care providers co-designing improvements and innovations: a scoping review

Kathryn Thorburn 0000-0002-7383-874X, Bani Aadam, Shifra Waks, Brett Bellingham, Mark F. Harris, Karen R. Fisher 0000-0002-0828-6395 and Catherine Spooner 0000-0002-6741-5644
 

Co-design and co-production bring together service user and service provider expertise to improve and innovate healthcare practices and services. This scoping review sought to determine the scope of co-design and co-production between mental health consumers and primary care providers and the feasibility of these approaches for developing healthcare improvements. The review confirmed there is considerable scope for co-design and co-production at the intersection of mental health and primary care and much to learn from existing initiatives reported in this study.

Published online 04 March 2025

PY24090The role of general practitioners in the follow-up of positive results from the Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program – a scoping review

Jane Gaspar, Caroline Bulsara, Diane Arnold-Reed 0000-0002-2469-3820, Karen Taylor and Anne Williams
 

The Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) aims to reduce deaths from bowel cancer by detecting early signs of the disease. There is limited literature on the role and processes of general practitioners subsequent to a positive test result as part of the program. This scoping review seeks to gain insight into this important step and enhance general practitioner involvement in the NBCSP.

Published online 03 March 2025

PY24116Maximising the potential of type 2 diabetes remission: scale up and sustainability considerations from the DiRECT-Aus implementation trial

Nilakshi Gunatillaka 0009-0006-0826-9719, Jenny Advocat, Lauren Ball 0000-0002-5394-0931, Terry Haines, Cylie Williams, Tze Lin Chai, Mitchell Bowden, Melissa Savaglio, Kate Gudorf and Elizabeth Sturgiss
 

Aiming for remission is a novel approach to type 2 diabetes management that can improve patients’ overall health and wellbeing. The UK’s ‘Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial’ (DiRECT) was adapted and tested in Australia. This implementation study found that DiRECT-Aus was acceptable to both patients and clinicians, and offers policy-relevant funding and workforce recommendations for scale up within Australian primary care settings.

Published online 03 March 2025

PY24174Exploring dementia service gaps and barriers in the Australian Capital Territory: a qualitative study

Nathan M. D’Cunha 0000-0002-4616-9931, Georgina Chelberg, Ian Huang, Hossein Tabatabaei-Jafari 0000-0003-4871-1226, Nasser Bagheri, Kasia Bail, Diane Gibson, Stephen Isbel, Lara Wiseman, Poulomi Chowdhury, Mary Anne Furst, Perminder S. Sachdev and Luis Salvador-Carulla
 

A qualitative study of 29 health and aged care providers in the Australian Capital Territory identified six major gaps in dementia care services: issues with existing care services and primary care, insufficient dementia-specific services, workforce limitations, funding barriers affecting service access and collaboration, and poor understanding of dementia. These challenges were noted as systemic across Australia, highlighting the need for enhanced access to coordinated, well-staffed dementia-specific services to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce system pressures.

Published online 25 February 2025

PY24154Perspectives of general practice nurses, people living with dementia and carers on the delivery of dementia care in the primary care setting: potential models for optimal care

Caroline Gibson, Dianne Goeman, Constance Dimity Pond, Mark Yates and Alison M. Hutchinson
 

Change in organisation and delivery of primary care to improve accessibility of best-practice care for people living with dementia and carer(s) is needed. This study describes three models of nurse-delivered dementia care from the perspectives of nurses working in general practice, people living with dementia and carer(s). These findings can be used to guide implementation of new models of dementia care provision by nurses to better meet primary care health needs of people living with dementia and carer(s).

Published online 20 February 2025

PY24151Investigating men’s perspectives on preventive health care within general practice: a qualitative study

Ruth Mursa, Gemma McErlean, Christopher Patterson and Elizabeth Halcomb
 

Chronic conditions are a significant health concern. Most Australian men are overweight or obese and half live with at least one chronic health condition. General practice delivers a range of services, including preventive health care. The paper reports on men’s perspectives on preventive health care within general practice. Our study indicates that there is significant potential to enhance the communication of lifestyle risks, support behavioural changes and reduce the impact of chronic conditions on men.

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Best Oral Paper Prize AAAPC 2024

Joanne Wong has been awarded the Best Oral Paper Prize for 2024.

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