JBI Research Programs.
As a part of the University of Adelaide, JBI has an academic research role; and, as an international organisation focusing on promoting and facilitating evidence based health care, the Institute engages in operational and evaluative research. There are two research areas associated with the Institute:
The Safety and Quality Research Unit
The Safety and Quality Research Unit is operated jointly by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the University of Adelaide and is made up of staff with expertise in evidence review, health services research and clinical research that lead to improving safety and quality. The goals of the Safety and Quality Improvement Research Unit are to develop and maintain a strong, funded research program focusing on evidence-based safety and quality improvement in acute, aged and primary care;
Our Research Team
Members of the Unit are:
Professor Alan Pearson RN, DipNEd, DANS, MSc, PhD, FAAG, FRCN |
Professor Bill Runciman MBBS, PhD, FRCP |
Professor Heather Gibb RN BA(Hons), PhD |
Professor Judy Lumby RN, PhD, MHPEd, BA, FCN(NSW), FRCNA |
Dr Richard Upton BSc (Hons), PhD |
Dr Tim Schultz BA, BSc(Hons), PhD |
Dr Judy Magarey RN, Crit Care Cert, DipN, BNurs, MNurs (Research), DNurs; |
Dr Rick Wiechula RN, MNSc, DN; |
Dr Anne Wilson RN, MN, PhD |
The Safety and Quality Research Unit coordinates and conducts all programmatic research and development within the University of Adelaide Discipline of Nursing and the Joanna Briggs Institute. This includes competitively funded and commissioned research and evidence review. Our research and development team has expertise across the fields of safety and quality, medicine, nursing, psychology and behavioural science, bioscience and statistics related to acute care, primary health care, community care, and aged care.
Postgraduate Research Program
The Safety and Quality Research Unit, as part of the University of Adelaide, offers supervision to Doctoral and Masters degrees-by-research students. Postgraduate students enrolled with the University of Adelaide and receiving supervision within the Institute are provided with access to all Joanna Briggs Resources including a fully networked work station and are integrated into the Institute's extensive international work program. A number of Joanna Briggs Institute supplemental scholarships (AUS$4000 per annum) are available to holders of an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship or equivalent. Supervision is offered in the following areas:
Safety and Quality |
Evidence Review and Synthesis |
Evidence Transfer and Organisational Change |
Evidence Utilisation |
Candidature
The University of Adelaide Faculty of Health Science consists of Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, with Departments covering most medical specialties, dental specialties, and nursing. Higher degree students wishing to access supervision by Joanna Briggs Institute staff must first seek candidature through the University of Adelaide. For more information about candidature at University of Adelaide, visit http://www.adelaide.edu.au/. For more information about the AUS$4000 supplemental scholarships, click here to visit the JBI PhD Research Program.
Recently completed research students
Dr Aye Aye Gyi |
"Relationship between admission hyperglycaemia and outcomes of stroke patients". August 2005. PhD, La Trobe University. |
Dr Thuzar Han |
"Evaluation of treatment outcomes of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients receiving directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) in Yangon, Myanmar". September 2005. PhD La Trobe University. |
Wilawan Picheansathian |
"The effectiveness of a promotion program on hand hygiene compliance and nosocomial infections in a neonatal intensive care unit". September 2005. DN, La Trobe University. |
Karen Page |
"Developing a predictive model for the risk of chronic heart failure readmission in those individuals with chronic heart failure". May 2005. DN, LaTrobe University |
Richard Wiechula |
"Considering the evidence: What counts as the best evidence for the Post Harvest Management of Split Thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites?" 2004. DN, University of Adelaide. |
Jill White |
"The Commodification of Caring". 2004. PhD, University of Adelaide. |
Ms Nyo Nyo Wint |
"The effectiveness of directly observed treatment short course and the needs of tuberculosis patients in Yangon, Myanmar" DN, LaTrobe University. |
Chomnard Potjanamart |
"The effectiveness of influenza vaccine among elderly persons in the home for aged" DN, La Trobe University |
Yupin Phianmongkhol |
"Non-Pharmacological pain management in cervical cancer patients" DN, La Trobe University |
Thanaruk Suwanprapisa |
"Caring for people with HIV/AIDS in Thailand" DN, La Trobe University |
Duangrudee Lasuka |
"Effects of an empowerment program on coping and quality of life in elders with a chronic illness” DN, La Trobe University |
Ms Rie Konno |
"Lived experience of overseas qualified nurses from a non-English speaking background" DN, La Trobe University |
Rasika Jayasekera |
"The development of an evidence based model of curricula for nursing education in Sri Lanka" PhD, University of Adelaide |
John Field |
"Nurses at Law - the treatment of nurses by the Australian legal system" PhD, La Trobe University |
Sharon Kendall |
"Some People We Have Known: The Effects of Nurse/Client Relationships on Clinical Practice" DN, La Trobe University |
Ms Ann Cleary |
“Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about cancer risk in the 65-year and older population. Is there an influence on screening behaviour for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer?” DN, University of Adelaide |
Current students
Ms Zoe Jordan |
“A discursive examination of principles of international collaboration and communication in health care” PhD, University of Adelaide |
Craig Lockwood |
“An investigation into qualitative synthesis” PhD, University of Adelaide |
Ms Kylie Porritt |
“A discursive analysis of contemporary literature on the role of qualitative evidence in evidence-based health care” PhD, University of Adelaide |
Mr Hamid Gharouni |
“Health related quality of life of people with acquired brain injury and their lived experience” DN, University of Adelaide |
Caroline Lee |
"The role of the Nurse Practitioner in the aged care setting" PhD, LaTrobe University |
Eileen Petrie |
"Workplace burnout prevention in rural community mental health" PhD, LaTrobe University |
Enquiries about the JBI Postgraduate Studies program should be addressed to Dr Tim Schultz at tim.schultz@adelaide.edu.au
Post Doctoral Studies
The Joanna Briggs Institute welcomes applications for postdoctoral study programs, for a minimum period of 26 weeks. Applications should include a detailed program, with clear objectives and research outcomes. The source of funding should be clearly identified and written confirmation of funding from the funder is required. Postdoctoral fellows are provided, at no charge, with access to all Joanna Briggs Institute programs; a work area; and Joanna Briggs Institute staff, subject to a formal agreement to publish research outputs in association with the Joanna Briggs Institute.
For further information contact Tim Schultz ( tim.schultz@adelaide.edu.au )
Visiting Scholars
The Joanna Briggs Institute welcomes applications for visiting scholar status from health professionals, health scientists and health service managers. Applications should be for a minimum period of two weeks and should include clear objectives for the visit and specific desired outcomes. Visiting Scholars are provided with access to all Joanna Briggs Institute programs; a work area; and Joanna Briggs Institute staff, for which a small weekly fee is levied.
For further information contact Tim Schultz ( tim.schultz@adelaide.edu.au )
The JBI Operational Research Unit
The JBI Operational Research Unit coordinates and conducts operational and commissioned research related to the core evidence based health care activities of the Institute. This includes internally funded research and development and competitively funded and commissioned research and evidence review; consultancy services to governments, health services and professional associations; and the development and maintenance of research and evidence review tools such as software packages.
Building on the JBI model for global health (Pearson, Wiechula, Court & Lockwood, 2005), and the Collaborations Position Statement on Scholarship and Research (Draft Feb. 2007), the Operational Research Unit conducts research and fosters research within and across the Joanna Briggs Collaboration in order to advance the field of synthesis and implementation alongside and contributing to other international bodies (e.g. Cochrane, Campbell, ADAPTE).
The goals of the Operational Research Unit are to:
- establish and apply rigorous evaluation processes to all JBI programs;
- increase the credibility of JBI programs including the CReMS software suite, PACES, POOL, COOL and JBICOnNECT;
- increase awareness of JBI programs including the CReMS software suite, PACES, POOL, COOL and JBICOnNECT;
- raise the research profile and output of JBI through establishing a research unit team responsible for developing and maintaining a strong, unfunded evaluation program;
- raise the research profile and output of JBI through establishing a research unit team responsible for developing and maintaining a strong, funded research program focusing on commissioned research; and
- enable JBI to become recognised nationally and internationally as a high quality research unit that provides leadership and has the highest reputation in the conduct, reporting and utilization of research in the field of evidence-based health care.
Our Research Team
Members of the Unit are:
Dr Aye Aye Gyi MBBS, MSc, PhD (Coordinator) |
Professor Alan Pearson RN, DipNEd, DANS, MSc, PhD, FAAG, FRCN |
Craig Lockwood RN, BN, MNSc |
Dr Nathan Manning BA (Hons), PhD |
Research Associates:
Cindy Stern BHSc(Hons) |
Tiffany Conroy RN, BN |
Amanda O’Connell RN, BN |
Zuben Florence RN, BN, MNSc |
The Operational Research Unit Research Program
Research naturally flows from the JBI view of evidence-based health care (Pearson, Wiechula, Court and Lockwood 2005). JBI has been dedicated to a global view of health through the full use of the international inventory of evidence since it was established in 1996 the Operational Research Unit focuses on our established four broad area of research and scholarship:
- basic science of knowledge translation;
- evidence synthesis (integrative studies);
- evidence transfer (intermediate studies); and
- evidence utilization and effectiveness studies.
JBI Operational Research Program Framework
Under the four major research foci, the JBI Operational Research Unit aims to:
- Contribute to the emerging field of synthesis science
- Contribute to the global health knowledge base though the conduct of systematic reviews.
- Conduct systematic reviews to synthesize evidence in response to practice, policy and economic issues.
- Develop and integrate methodologies of synthesis with other leading edge groups such as Cochrane.
- Conduct evaluation studies of the JBI approach to implementation science
- Foster and participate in evidence utilization studies.
- Engage in international initiatives relevant to evidence uptake
The Operation Research Unit Evaluation Framework for JBI In-House Programs and Resources
As the Joanna Briggs Collaboration and JBI membership has grown there is a diverse population of users. The value and use of the JBI approach and resources requires ongoing evaluation and scrutiny for quality purposes. A pragmatic, user-focused approach will be essential.
Currently, the evaluation design based on Patton's utilisation focused evaluation framework (1990, 1997) is seen as useful. The JBI's conceptual framework (Pearson et al 2005) outlines the process of evidence use for global health. In the past 10 years the JBI has endeavoured to develop an organization responsive to the activity of moving evidence to practice. The process is supported by resources that describe and facilitate actions required. JBI resources include web-based tools for evidence synthesis and implementation, educational programs, and consultation services. As such, we consider JBI to be a program (or suite of programs) with tools and resources available to users internationally.
The evaluation program assesses JBI program implementation and the use, acceptability, relevance, meaningfulness and benefit to user groups (guideline developers, health care professionals and decision makers) in various contexts (Figure 2). Both the program’s components (educational components, web resources etc.) as well as the overall effect of the program are evaluated from a formative perspective i.e. with the intent of improving the quality. Our intent is to refine the JBI processes and resources to better meet the needs of the user community in light of the broader aim of improving global health. As well we are striving to understand the impact of JBI in a holistic way because, as a new innovation, the unforeseen and possibly unexpected impact of such a program should be considered (Patton, 1997; Cronbach, 1982).
Evaluation typically involves three phases:
- descriptive, exploratory investigations of the environment and of stakeholders (profiling);
- a process component to understand the use of a component e.g. PACES; and
- an outcome component to understand the impact or perceived effect. Sample questions related to this phasing are articulated in Table 1 using PACES as an example.
Evaluations are multi-method employing pragmatic quantitative (survey, audit) and qualitative methods (focus group, debriefing sessions, field notes).
Commisioned Research and Consultancy Service
The JBI Operational Research Unit welcomes inquiries from health related groups in relation to commissioned research and consultancies. The team operates with a small but dedicated staff within an inter-disciplinary framework. The team has established links with a wide range of service provider organisations and is sensitive to the needs of such organisations, government and client groups. The JBI Operational Research Unit has successfully completed consultancies and research projects, both competitive and commissioned, for a wide variety of funding bodies and government agencies, both nationally and internationally.
The team has extensive experience in acute care, rehabilitation, aged care and quality improvement and manages an active portfolio of consultancies and an ongoing research program. Important links with relevant bodies across 34 countries are already well established and enhance our capacity for coordinating international, multi-site research and maintaining awareness of international trends in health care research. The team works with minimal bureaucracy and work is shared according to the current pressures. Multi-skilling is important. All team members write text and reports using word-processing packages and some team members are trained in the use of desktop publishing programs. Fractional and part-time staffing arrangements are used according to the needs of the project. For example the staff on current projects hold appointments at 60 per cent, 70 per cent and 80 per cent. These appointments can be varied according to project needs. Staff move between projects according to priorities and time-line requirements to ensure all projects are delivered on time and according to each projects particular requirements.
Current Research & Evaluation
Overall, the team undertakes consultancies on value for money principles with constant monitoring of the efficiency and effectiveness of the strategies used. Recent commissioned work includes:
2007 |
South Australian Department of Health. Evaluation of Hospital Avoidance Programs ($50,000) |
2005/6/7 |
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, National Aged Care Nurse Practitioner Trial ($240,000) |
2005/6 |
Kleijnen Systematic Rev. Ltd (for NHS UK). Series of Systematic Reviews on Allergy Services ($50,000) |
2005 |
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Development of an oral health assessment tool kit for general practitioners to utilise when undertaking a comprehensive medical assessment in residential aged care facilities (in collaboration with the South Australian Dental Health Service, $80,000) |
2005 |
The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Inc, Development of Resource information regarding Accreditation Standards for Residential Aged Care ($99,000) |
2005 |
Department of Health, South Australia, Evidence Reviews of Exclusion of Elective Surgical procedures from publicly funded programs ($60,266) |
2005 |
Department of Health, South Australia, A Series of Integrative Literature Reviews and to Develop an Options Paper on Establishing New Models of the Delivery of Primary Health Care Services ($4,500) |
2005 |
Safety Innovations in Practice (SIIP) Mark III Program, Engaging Consumers in Safety and Quality at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. ($20,000) |
2004 |
Department of Health, South Australia, Key Learnings from the National Palliative Care Program ($80,000) |
2004 |
Department of Health, South Australia, "Best Practice Models in Mental Health Nursing Education and Training" ($85,000) |
2003/4 |
Health Canada and Department of Health, South Australia, Healthy Work Environment Study ($182,000) |
2002 |
Department of Health, South Australia, "The relationship between staff mix and recruitment and retention of nurses in an acute care facility" ($25,000) with Dr Leslye Long |
2002 |
Greensborough Private Nursing Home, "Education and Evaluation of the Nurse Practitioner Project in an Aged Care Facility" ($10,000) with Miss Cathy Ward. |
2002 |
La Trobe University Central Large Grant, "An Investigation of Meal-Time Practice in Victorian Residential Aged Care Facilities", ($9,000) |
2001 |
Department of Education, Science & Training, "Literature Review: Australian Aged Care Nursing - A Critical Review of Education, Training, Recruitment and Retention in Residential and Community Settings" ($39,418) with Professor Rhonda Nay, Ms Susan Koch, Miss Cathy Ward, Ms Catherine Andrews and Mr Andrew Tucker. |
2001 |
Department of Human Services, Victoria, "A project to evaluate Nurse Practitioner Models of Practice", ($89,352) with Professor Rhonda Nay, Mr Liam Lenten and Miss Cathy Ward |
2001 |
City of Greater Dandenong, "Maternal, Physical and Emotional Wellbeing Pilot Project", ($10,000) with Ms Marianne Mackay and Ms Alison Nuske. |
2001 |
>La Trobe University/Victorian Day Surgery Association, "Day Surgery Nurses" ($20,000) with Ms Marilyn Richardson, Miss Cathy Ward, Ms Ros Forshaw, Ms Michelle Cairns, Ms Neridah Creedan, Ms Marguerite Hoiby, and Ms Louise Labb. |
For further information or to discuss your needs, contact Craig Lockwood at craig.lockwood@adelaide.edu.au
(1) Patton MQ. Qualitative evaluation and research methods. 2 ed. Newbury Park, CA: Sage; 1990.
(2) Patton MQ. Utilization-focused evaluation: The new century text. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 1997.
(3) Cronbach LJ. Designing evaluations of educational and social programs. 1 ed. Windsor, ON: Jossey-Bass; 1983.