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JBI Research Unit

A joint research and development initiative of The University of Adelaide and The Joanna Briggs Institute.

The JBI 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 leads to improved health outcomes.

Our Activities

The JBI 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; consultancy services to governments, health services and professional associations; and the development and maintenance of research and evidence review tools such as software packages. Our research and development team has expertise across the fields of acute care, primary health care, community care, and aged care in:

• quality improvement;
• evidence review and evidence synthesis;
• evidence transfer;
• evidence utilisation/implementation;
• change management;
• clinical audit;
• the design and analysis of research studies;
• embedding evidence in health systems and decision support systems;
• health services research; and
• clinical research.

Commissioned Research and Consultancy Service

The JBI 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 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 desk-top 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 project’s 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:

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)

2005/6 Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, National Aged Care Nurse Practitioner Trial ($240,000)

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

Postgraduate Research Program

The 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:

Evidence Review and Synthesis
Including methodological work on the synthesis of qualitative research findings; the synthesis of text and opinion; the meta-analysis of quantitative research findings; and the systematic review of international evidence.

Evidence Transfer
Including the study of the use of electronic and print media in knowledge transfer; guideline development; embedding evidence in organisational systems; and consumer involvement.

Evidence Utilisation
Including the evaluation of methods of implementing evidence based guidelines; clinical audit and feedback; and action-oriented approaches to barrier identification and change management in clinical practice improvement.

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.

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 )