Health workforce reform remains a major challenge for Australia. The recent Productivity Commission report provided some guidance, but, sadly, few of the recommendations have been implemented. Health economies (and with them the health workforce) will continue to expand as the burden of disease increases. The important issue is to expand the current workforce but provide for a generalist stream that allows flexibility and retraining. The future health workforce needs to be able to provide patient-centred care, to have a focus on public health and disease prevention, use information and the new communication technologies, to be able to work as part of a team and partner with a range of organisations and to be dedicated to quality improvement within
BACKGROUND: No self-management interventions have been developed to empower those chronically disabled by a musculoskeletal condition to find and/or remain at work. OBJECTIVE: Develop and evaluate the content of two self-management training modules to improve vocational outcomes for those with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: Stanford University's Chronic Disease Self-Management Program provided the framework for the new modules. Focus groups with the eight persons with work disabilities and concept-mapping sessions with the 12 experienced vocational rehabilitation professionals were conducted to identify factors and themes contributing to workers remaining/returning to work post-injury. Five experienced self-management trainers reviewed the modules for consistency with self-management principles. RESULTS: Two new self-management modules: 'Navigating the System' and 'Managing a Return to Work' were developed. The persons with work disabilities generated four themes: accepting and coping with injury; skills to manage pain and life; positive working relationships and, re-inventing self, whereas the rehabilitation professionals identified three themes:communication and support of others; the injured worker's abilities and resources, and knowledge and education. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention developed to enhance self-management skills and facilitate positive vocational outcomes of those seeking to return to work post-injury was confirmed as relevant by persons with work disabilities, rehabilitation professionals and self-management trainers.
This study explores the views and experiences of knowledge translation of 14 Australian public health academics. Capacity to engage in knowledge translation is influenced by factors within the academic context and the interaction of the academic and policy environments. Early and mid-career researchers reported a different set of experiences and pressures to senior researchers. Barriers to knowledge translation reported are largely consistent with prior research. However, this study also emphasised the importance of academic professional identity in research-policy translation. Strategies to enhance research uptake should both address structural barriers and seek to encourage a culture of engagement with public policy.
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