Mind the gap: is it time to invest in embedded researchers in regional, rural and remote health services to address health outcome discrepancies for those living in rural, remote and regional areas?
Anna Moran A B L , Helen Haines A C , Nicole Raschke D , David Schmidt E F , Alison Koschel G , Alexandre Stephens F H I , Cynthia Opie J and Susan Nancarrow KA Rural Health Academic Network, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Medical School, Department of Rural Health, 49 Graham Street, Shepparton, Vic. 3632, Australia.
B Albury Hospital, Albury Wodonga Health, PO Box 326, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
C North East Health Wangaratta, The Chalet, Docker Street, Wangaratta, Vic. 3676, Australia.
D Mid North Coast Local Health District, Morton Street, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia.
E Rural Research Capacity Building Program, Health Education and Training Institute, 1 McKee Drive, Bega, NSW 2550, Australia.
F School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building (A27), Fisher Road, NSW 2006, Australia.
G Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, 1/185 Morgan Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
H Northern NSW Local Health District, Crawford House, Hunter Street, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
I Murwillumbah District Hospital, Ewing Street, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484, Australia.
J Echuca Regional Health, 226 Service Street, Echuca, Vic. 3564, Australia.
K Southern Cross University, Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga, Qld 4225, Australia.
L Corresponding author. Email: anna.moran@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 25(2) 104-107 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY18201
Submitted: 24 December 2018 Accepted: 27 February 2019 Published: 10 April 2019
Abstract
Research capacity building in healthcare works to generate and apply new knowledge to improve health outcomes; it creates new career pathways, improves staff satisfaction, retention and organisational performance. While there are examples of investment and research activity in rural Australia, overall, rural research remains under-reported, undervalued and under-represented in the evidence base. This is particularly so in primary care settings. This lack of contextual knowledge generation and translation perpetuates rural–metropolitan health outcome disparities. Through greater attention to and investment in building research capacity and capability in our regional, rural and remote health services, these issues may be partially addressed. It is proposed that it is time for Australia to systematically invest in rurally focussed, sustainable, embedded research capacity building.
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