Issues Paper - South Western Sydney Local Health District - NSW ...

A Research Strategy for South Western Sydney Local Health District – Paper No.1 Issues Final April 2012broader cross section of disciplines, research units and services to address collaborativelypriority research questions and to provide a base from which workforce capability can bedeveloped. Streams were also seen to provide an environment where research could beembedded into clinical practice. This strength is reflected in the new and innovativeresearch that is being undertaken in the District.The NSW Health Review Discussion Paper (October 2011) has identified that in the futureresearch priorities will need to be clearly identified. Although the research streams reflect theoverarching broad District priorities, the research priorities and directions within each streamhave not been as clearly articulated. This limits the streams’ ability to develop projects withgreatest potential to attract funds, impact on the health of the community, change clinicalpractice and engage with and support new researchers/ clinicians in developing theirresearch skills and expertise. It also limits the ability of the District and Ingham Institute toidentify where research support (in the form of direct or indirect funding) is required andwhich areas of research would provide the greatest benefit to the local community.Summary of issuesThe function, strategies and relationships of research streams need support andleadership.The number of streams should be limited but will not define all of the researchundertaken in the LHD or in the Ingham InstituteThe relationship between the Ingham research streams and LHD research and clinicalservices needs to be defined.Should research streams be limited to disease entities or reflect professional groupingssuch as Allied Health or Nursing?2. Potential Research PrioritiesThe following indicates some issues critical to potential research directions.Health Behaviours and ConditionsA stronger approach to prevention was seen by a number of staff as an area which couldbe further developed. Currently, population health research is targeting areas such assmoking (particularly in Aboriginal communities), environment and mental health. This workoccurs in partnership with other agencies including NSW Departments of Housing, Planningand Education and local councils. In addition, it is planned that SWSLHD will host the newNSW Office of Prevention, providing additional knowledge and expertise locally which canfurther support research into prevention.The following are examples of potential areas of research for SWSLHD investment:The growth of obesity and overweight nationally, and particularly in South WesternSydney, and its impact on a range of health conditions suggest that there may bebenefits in developing a new and stronger prevention agenda in overweight andobesity to prevent diabetes and related health problems.Injury is a potential area for expansion due to its broad interdisciplinary agenda, theimpact of life-time disability and broader base of research funding options.Research into models of care in prevention, early intervention and treatment ofHepatitis B and related liver carcinomas is important given the large non-Englishspeaking communities in this District.SWSLHD| 9