Feasibility Study: Primary Health Partnerships as a Mechanism for Health Promotion (2004)
While there have been numerous reviews that have presented logically consistent reasons why general practitioners should be involved in primary health care initiatives, there are several barriers that inhibit this involvement. These include cultural, organisational, training, resource and financial barriers. The report generated from this project provided clear descriptions of best practice interventions and recommendations for the integration of health promotion into the primary health partnerships. Recommendations regarding potential implementation structures, cost effectiveness and best practice based upon existing literature and stakeholders were also included.
The project consisted of two phases. Phase one involved a comprehensive literature review that identified known barriers and limitations affecting Divisions of General Practice in implementing primary health care initiatives; synthesised the evidence supporting best practice interventions by GP's in primary health care; and identified implementation strategies that have been successful.
Phase two involved a limited consultation with key stakeholders (DoH, Divisions of GP, Health Services and Population Health, Health Promotion Directorate) and a situational assessment of local issues. This identified known barriers, limitations and enables affecting Divisions of General Practice in implementing primary health care initiatives, specifically in health promotion.
