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Background: Hypertension is the most frequently seen condition in Australian general practice. Despite the availability of effective therapies, many hypertensive individuals struggle to maintain adequate blood pressure control and are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature morbidity. As such there is an urgent need for research to identify evidence based strategies to improve hypertension management in general practice. General Practice Nurses (GPNs) are conceptually ideally placed to support consumers to receive best practice care and achieve behavioural change. However, their specific role in managing hypertension is unclear. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a GPN-led intervention to manage hypertension in Australian general practice. Methods: Individuals with uncontrolled hypertension were identified from electronic medical records. GPNs provided 4 face-to-face appointments and 2 telephone support calls to deliver the intervention.Qualitative evaluation of the interventions’ feasibility and acceptability was achieved through semi-structured interviews with 6 GPs, 7 GPNs and 12 consumers. Findings: Thematic analysis revealed 5 themes, namely; pre-intervention training, GP/GPN roles, time and workload, acceptability and feasibility. Most GPNs appreciated the pre-intervention training, however the need for additional motivational interviewing education was identified. Consumers were satisfied with the intervention valuing the GPN as a ‘coach’, although they valued ongoing GP input. Issues relating to lack of time and competing work priorities were identified as barriers to successfully delivering the intervention, however, the intervention was perceived to be feasible and acceptable in practice. Conclusion: Despite the demonstrated acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, the ongoing sustainability of the model rests largely upon overcoming the organisational, educational and professional barr

Background and objectives: Patients with hypertension and at high absolute cardiovascular disease risk are a priority group for improved blood pressure control. This study examined the impact of an intervention, primarily delivered by the general practice nurse, to identify, recall and manage patients with uncontrolled hypertension who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Methods: A before-and-after pilot study with a six-month follow-up period was conducted in eight general practices in Sydney, Australia. Results: From 507 patients identified, 82 (16.2%) attended an assessment visit, were eligible and provided baseline data. Of these, 55 (67.1%) completed the six-month follow-up. The mean decrease in blood pressure was 14.5 mmHg systolic and 7 mmHg diastolic. Significant decreases were also found in mean weight (1.3 kg), body mass index (0.5 kg/m2) and waist circumference (1.9 cm). Adherence to blood pressure treatment, as measured by the Hill–Bone scale, significantly improved (P = 0.01) Discussion: The results of this study justify further investigation in a randomised trial. If effective, the approach could alter the way hypertension care is organised and delivered in Australian general practice. Abstract reproduced with permission from the RACGP

Background. It is important to understand the experiences surrounding smoking cessation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to improve the likely success of future smoking cessation programs. Objective. To explore the personal experiences surrounding smoking cessation among general practice patients with COPD. Methods. A purposive sample of 33 general practice patients with COPD, 28 ex-smokers and 5 smokers, participated in the semi-structured telephone interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted using a predominantly deductive approach guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel framework. Results. Three inter-related themes were generated: the motivation, opportunities and capabilities among the participants to quit and maintain smoking cessation. Most quit attempts occurred without explanation or prior planning, though some attempts were motivated by the participants' family, peers or GP. Internet-based smoking cessation support programs led by general practices and involving the practice nurse were perceived as opportunities to engage in quit attempts. Most participants, both ex-smokers and smokers, demonstrated capacity to engage in multiple quit attempts. However, for many smokers, boredom, mood disturbances, the strong sense of identity as a smoker, peer reinforcement, irritability, cravings, hunger and weight gain limited capability to maintain smoking cessation. Conclusions. Patients with COPD have motivation to quit and have demonstrated capacity to engage in multiple quit attempts. GPs and other primary care practitioners need to recognize the patients' spontaneity around quit attempts and to meet the needs of the individual patient by being ready to offer support for each attempt once the patient has made their decision to quit

Background: Support in primary care can assist smokers to quit successfully, but there are barriers to general practitioners (GPs) providing this support routinely. Practice nurses (PNs) may be able to effectively take on this role. Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform a process evaluation of a PN-led smoking cessation intervention being tested in a randomized controlled trial in Australian general practice. Methods: Process evaluation was conducted by means of semi-structured telephone interviews with GPs and PNs allocated in the intervention arm (Quit with PN) of the Quit in General Practice trial. Interviews focussed on nurse training, content and implementation of the intervention. Results: Twenty-two PNs and 15 GPs participated in the interviews. The Quit with PN intervention was viewed positively. Most PNs were satisfied with the training and the materials provided. Some challenges in managing patient data and follow-up were identified. Conclusion: The Quit with PN intervention was acceptable to participating PNs and GPs. Issues to be addressed in the planning and wider implementation of future trials of nurse-led intervention in general practice include providing ongoing mentoring support, integration into practice management systems and strategies to promote greater collaboration in GPs and PN teams in general practice. The ongoing feasibility of the intervention was impacted by the funding model supporting PN employment and the competing demands on the PNs time.

of a paper presented at he 2015 PHC Research Conference, 29-31 July, Adelaide, Australia.

Objectives. To evaluate the uptake and effectiveness of tailored smoking cessation support, provided primarily by the practice nurse (PN), and compare this to other forms of cessation support. Methods. Three arm cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in 101 general practices in Sydney and Melbourne involving 2390 smokers. The Quit with PN intervention was compared to Quitline referral and a usual care control group. Smoking cessation pharmacotherapy was recommended to all groups. Outcomes were assessed by self-report at 3- and 12-month follow-up. Uptake of the interventions is also reported. Results. The three groups were similar at baseline. Follow-up at 12 months was 82%. The sustained and point prevalence abstinence rates, respectively, at 3 months by group were: PN intervention 13.1% and 16.3%; Quitline referral 10.8% and 14.2%; Usual GP care 11.4% and 15.0%. At 12 months, the rates were: PN intervention 5.4% and 17.1%; Quitline referral 4.4% and 18.8%; Usual GP care 2.9% and 16.4%. Only 43% of patients in the PN intervention group attended to see the nurse. Multilevel regression analysis showed no effect of the intervention overall, but patients who received partial or complete PN support were more likely to report sustained abstinence [partial support odds ratio (OR) 2.27; complete support OR 5.34]. Conclusion. The results show no difference by group on intention to treat analysis. Those patients who received more intensive PN intervention were more likely to quit. This may have been related to patient motivation or an effect of PN led cessation support.

Issue addressed Community-based programs to address physical activity and diet are seen as a valuable strategy to reduce risk factors for chronic disease. Community partnerships are important for successful local implementation of these programs but little is published to describe the challenges of developing partnerships to implement health promotion programs. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and opinions of key stakeholders on the development and maintenance of partnerships during their implementation of the HEAL¿ program. Method Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders involved in implementation of HEAL¿ in four local government areas. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results Partnerships were vital to the success of the local implementation. Successful partnerships occurred where the program met the needs of the partnering organisation, or could be adapted to do so. Partnerships took time to develop and were often dependent on key people. Partnering with organisations that had a strong influence in the community could strengthen existing relationships and success. In remote areas partnerships took longer to develop because of fewer opportunities to meet face to face and workforce shortages and this has implications for program funding in these areas. Conclusion Partnerships are important for the successful implementation of community preventive health programs. They take time to develop, are dependent on the needs of the stakeholders and are facilitated by stable leadership. So what? An understanding of the role of partnerships in the implementation of community health programs is important to inform several aspects of program delivery, including flexibility in funding arrangements to allow effective and mutually beneficial partnerships to develop before the implementation phase of the program. It is important that policy makers have an understanding of the time it takes for partnerships to develop a

of an oral presentations that was presented at the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand and the Australian & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science 2014 Annual Scientific Meetings, 4-9 April 2014, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, Australia.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of disability, hospitalization, and premature mortality. General practice is well placed to diagnose and manage COPD, but there is a significant gap between evidence and current practice, with a low level of awareness and implementation of clinical practice guidelines. Under-diagnosis of COPD is a world-wide problem, limiting the benefit that could potentially be achieved through early intervention strategies such as smoking cessation, dietary advice, and exercise. General practice is moving towards more structured chronic disease management, and the increasing involvement of practice nurses in delivering chronic care.Design: A pragmatic cluster randomised trial will test the hypothesis that intervention by a practice nurse-general practitioner (GP) team leads to improved health-related quality of life and greater adherence with clinical practice guidelines for patients with newly-diagnosed COPD, compared with usual care. Forty general practices in greater metropolitan Sydney Australia will be recruited to identify patients at risk of COPD and invite them to attend a case finding appointment. Practices will be randomised to deliver either practice nurse-GP partnership care, or usual care, to patients newly-diagnosed with COPD.The active intervention will involve the practice nurse and GP working in partnership with the patient in developing and implementing a care plan involving (as appropriate), smoking cessation, immunisation, pulmonary rehabilitation, medication review, assessment and correction of inhaler technique, nutritional advice, management of psycho-social issues, patient education, and management of co-morbidities.The primary outcome measure is health-related quality of life, assessed with the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire 12 months after diagnosis. Secondary outcome measures include validated disease-specific and general health related quality of life measures, smoking a

Objective: To evaluate a partnership model of care for patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design, setting and participants: Cluster randomised controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment of 44 general practices in south-western Sydney comprising 451 people with a diagnosis of COPD, conducted between 2006 and 2009. Intervention: Participants from intervention group practices were visited at their home by a registered nurse with specific training in COPD care who worked with the general practitioner, the patient and other health professionals to develop and implement an individualised care plan based on best-practice guidelines. Participants from control group practices received usual care. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was disease-related quality of life measured using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) at 12-month follow-up. Other outcomes were overall quality of life, lung function, smoking status, immunisation status, patient knowledge of COPD, and health service use. Results: Of the 451 participants, 257 (57.8%) were confirmed as having COPD on post-bronchodilator spirometry. Follow-up was completed for 330 patients (73.2%). At 12 months, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean SGRQ scores between intervention and control groups (38.7 v 37.6; difference, 1.1; 95% CI, - 1.53-3.74; P =0.41) or in measures of quality of life, lung function and smoking status. Compared with the control group, in the intervention group, attendance at pulmonary rehabilitation was more frequent (31.1% v 9.6%; OR, 5.16; 95% CI, 2.40-11.10; P =0.002) and the mean COPD knowledge score was higher (10.5 v 9.8; difference, 0.70; CI, 0.10-1.21; P=0.02). Conclusion: The nurse-GP partnership intervention did not have an impact on disease-related quality of life at 12-month follow-up. However, there was evidence of improved quality of care, in particular, in attendance at pulmonary rehabilitation and pat

Objectives: To compare the clinical diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with results of post-bronchodilator spirometry in general practice, and examine practitioner, practice and patient characteristics associated with agreement between clinical and spirometric diagnoses. Design, setting and participants: General practitioners from practices in Sydney identified eligible patients aged 40-80 years seen in the past year and prescribed respiratory medications whom they regarded as having COPD. Between November 2006 and April 2008, we collected information on the GPs and their practices, and demographic information, smoking status, comorbidities, respiratory medicines use, vaccination status, quality of life and spirometry results for participating patients. Main outcome measures: Frequency of COPD diagnosis on spirometry; odds ratios for characteristics associated with agreement between clinical and spirometric diagnoses. Results: 56 GPs from 44 practices participated in the study. Of 1144 eligible patients, 445 were recruited (mean age, 65 years; 49% male). Of these, 257 (57.8%) had post-bronchodilator spirometry consistent with COPD ± asthma, 16 (3.6%) had asthma only, 82 (18.4%) had normal spirometry, and 90 (20.2%) had other spirometric diagnoses. Having a spirometer in the practice was not predictive of agreement between clinical and spirometric diagnoses. Older patient age was significantly associated with correct diagnosis, while higher numbers of comorbidities were associated with misdiagnosis. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients clinically identified as having COPD in general practice do not have the condition according to spirometric criteria, with inaccurate diagnosis more common in patients with comorbidities. Policy and practice change is needed to support the use of spirometry in primary care.

BACKGROUND This study will test the uptake and effectiveness of a flexible package of smoking cessation support provided primarily by the practice nurse (PN) and tailored to meet the needs of a diversity of patients. METHODS/DESIGN This study is a cluster randomised trial, with practices allocated to one of three groups 1) Quit with Practice Nurse 2) Quitline referral 3) GP usual care. PNs from practices randomised to the intervention group will receive a training course in smoking cessation followed by access to mentoring. GPs from practices randomised to the Quitline referral group will receive information about the study and the process of written referral and GPs in the usual care group will receive information about the study. Eligible patients are those aged 18 and over presenting to their GP who are daily or weekly smokers and who are able to give informed consent. Patients on low incomes in all three groups will be able to access free nicotine patches.Primary outcomes are sustained abstinence and point prevalence abstinence at the three month and 12 month follow-up points; and incremental cost effectiveness ratios at 12 months. Process evaluation on the reach and acceptability of the intervention approached will be collected through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) with patients and semi-structured interviews with PNs and GPs.The primary analysis will be by intention to treat. Cessation outcomes will be compared between the three arms at three months and 12 month follow-up using multiple logistic regression. The incremental cost effectiveness ratios will be estimated for the 12 month quit rate for the intervention groups compared to usual care and to each other. Analysis of qualitative data on process outcomes will be based on thematic analysis. DISCUSSION High quality evidence on effectiveness of practice nurse interventions is needed to inform health policy on development of practice nurse roles. If effective, flexible support from the PN in p

Background This study will test the uptake and effectiveness of a flexible package of smoking cessation support provided primarily by the practice nurse (PN) and tailored to meet the needs of a diversity of patients. Methods/Design This study is a cluster randomised trial, with practices allocated to one of three groups 1) Quit with Practice Nurse 2) Quitline referral 3) GP usual care. PNs from practices randomised to the intervention group will receive a training course in smoking cessation followed by access to mentoring. GPs from practices randomised to the Quitline referral group will receive information about the study and the process of written referral and GPs in the usual care group will receive information about the study. Eligible patients are those aged 18 and over presenting to their GP who are daily or weekly smokers and who are able to give informed consent. Patients on low incomes in all three groups will be able to access free nicotine patches. Primary outcomes are sustained abstinence and point prevalence abstinence at the three month and 12 month follow-up points; and incremental cost effectiveness ratios at 12 months. Process evaluation on the reach and acceptability of the intervention approached will be collected through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) with patients and semi-structured interviews with PNs and GPs. The primary analysis will be by intention to treat. Cessation outcomes will be compared between the three arms at three months and 12 month follow-up using multiple logistic regression. The incremental cost effectiveness ratios will be estimated for the 12 month quit rate for the intervention groups compared to usual care and to each other. Analysis of qualitative data on process outcomes will be based on thematic analysis. Discussion High quality evidence on effectiveness of practice nurse interventions is needed to inform health policy on development of practice nurse roles. If effective, flexible support from the PN in