National Rural General Practice Study (NRGPS) - Introduction

Purpose

The National Rural General Practice Study developed a national profile of non-metropolitan general practice. The Study evaluated recent changes in rural general practice, as well as establish a baseline from which to evaluate future changes.

Aims/Objectives

• To describe the nature of regional, rural, and remote area general practice including the services provided, workload, advantages and disadvantages.
• To investigate rural doctor experience and perceptions of recent initiatives aimed at improving recruitment, training and retention of rural GPs including:
  • The General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP)
  • The Rural Training Stream of the RACGP Training Program (RTS)
  • Rural Divisions of General Practice including Rural Divisions Coordinating Units
  • The Rural Health Support, Education and Training Program (RHSET)
  • Rural Health Training Units (RHTU)
  • Better Practice Program (BPP)
• To explore the attitudes of rural GPs to changing structures and functions of rural health services

Study Management

The National Rural General Practice Study has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services General Practice Evaluation Program to run from March 1996 to September 1997. The Study is lead by:

• Chief Investigator - Professor Roger Strasser
  (Monash University Centre for Rural Health)
• Co Chief Investigator - Professor Richard Hays
  (University of Queensland North Queensland Clinical School)
• Co Chief Investigator - Professor Max Kamien
  (University of Western Australia Department of General Practice)
• Research Fellow - Dean Carson
  (Monash University Centre for Rural Health)

Components of the Study

The Study has identified existing national sources of information about non-metropolitan general practice. A model is being explored for incorporating these sources into a single database about rural general practice (the Australian Rural Medical Database - ARMeD).

In addition to identifying existing sources, the Study included a survey of almost 4000 regional, rural, and remote general practitioners across Australia. The survey was specifically designed to collect information not already available in the existing sources.

Timetable

The survey was administered between October 1996 and February 1997. Data analysis will take place throughout March and April 1997. A series of working papers is being developed which will communicate the results of the Study.

Further information

Further information about the National Rural General Practice Study and its implications for rural general practice policy in Australia can be found in the study executive summary and final report.