Dr Caroline Laurence

Biography/ Background

Caroline Laurence joined the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide in 2000 as Research Fellow (and is currently a Senior Research Fellow) following six years of working with a Federal Government program in South Australia.  She has worked part-time as Research and Development Manager at the Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program (AOGP) since 2002, a provider of vocational GP training affiliated with the University of Adelaide.  Over the last 10 years she had developed and enhanced her research skills and identified areas of interest and expertise particularly in the area of medical workforce, medical education, chronic disease management, cervical screening, asthma management and rural health. 

 

While in the Discipline of General Practice she has obtained more than $13.1m of funding from competitive research grants, tender submissions and contract research.  She was the lead writer on three successful large tenders for the Discipline, the first being a tender to provide vocational GP training by the University of Adelaide (the AOGP), secondly a tender to manage and provide the evaluation for one of the largest RCTs to be undertaken in Australian general practice – the Point of Care Testing Trial in a General Practice Setting and lastly the Playford North GP SuperClinic with Adelaide Unicare, University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia.  Additionally, in her role as Reserach and Development Manager at AOGP, which is considered one of the premier GP vocational training programs in Australia, she has received project and program funding of more than $1.27m. 

 

During her period at the Discipline of General Practice, she has completed her PhD part-time (2002-2005) which investigated the patterns of services of overseas trained doctors working in rural and remote Australia. 

 

She has over 30 publications in peer reviewed journals and presented over 35 papers at national and international conferences, workshops and forums.

 

She is Chair of the School of Population Health and Clinical Practice Learning and Teaching Committee.

 

Qualifications

2008 Doctor of Philosophy (General Practice), University of Adelaide
1996 Master of Health Service Management, Flinders University of South Australia
1984 Bachelor of Arts (Hons), The University of Adelaide
1983 Bachelor of Arts (Geography), The University of Adelaide

Awards & Achievements

Faculty of Health Sciences International Conference Award, 2012

School of Population Health and Clinical Practice Best Early Career Researcher, 2011

Australian Association for Academic Primary Care Travelling Fellowship 2011

Australian Association for Academic General Practice Most Distinguished Paper Award, GP and PHC Conference, Melbourne 15-17 July 2009

The Wyeth/Medical Journal of Australia Award for the best research article published in 2009 for "Effectiveness of point-of-care testing for therapeutic control of chronic conditions: results from the PoCT in General Practice Trial".

2009 Sir Richard Stawell Memorial Prize awarded for an article on a medical subject of clinical significance published in the Medical Journal of Australia.  The award is for the paper “Does point-of-care testing lead to the same or better adherence to medication: Results from the PoCT in General Practice Trial”. Gialamas A, Yelland L, Ryan P, Willson K, Laurence CO, Bubner T, Tideman P, Beilby J

General Practice Education Training, Regional Training Provider Staff Excellence Award 2005

Research Funding

RSEARCH GRANTS

Laurence CO, Karnon J. Developing a needs-based simulation model for planning the general practice workforce.  HWA Strategic Research Program 2012-2013, $79,990

Laurence CO. Planning the primary care workforces: developing and implementing a needs-based approach. ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, 2012 (DE120101502). $375,000, 2012-2015)

Eley DS, Laurence CO, Wilkinson D, Walters LK, Cloninger CR, Young JL, Kitchener SJ, Black LE. Increasing the rural medical workforce: investigating personal traits to enhance our understanding and improve training for rural registrars.  ARC Linkage Grant 2010 (LP110100382).  $116,272, 2011-2013.

Laurence COM, Glastonbury B. Enhancing the quality use of pathology for GP Trainees.  Quality Use of Pathology Program, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. 2008/2009. $170,000.

Laurence COM. The feasibility of establishing a state-wide system to track medical graduates in South Australia Phase 1. RDWA grant 2007-08 $45,000.

Laurence COM, Black L. Partner perceptions of the attractiveness of rural communities (PpARC): an exploration of the concerns of the families of GP Registrars in participating in a rural placement.  RDWA grant 2006-07 $60,000.

Laurence COM, Turnbull D, Stocks N, Robertson J. Unsuccessful applicants to the medical school at the University of Adelaide. RDWA grant 2006-07. $39,000.

Laurence COM, Stocks N. What do new GP graduates deem important in their selection of a rural practice in South Australia? A stocktake of views from recently recruited or soon to be recruited rural GPs.  RDWA grant, 2006-07. $34,000

Laurence COM, Laven G, Turnbull D, Fleming J, Elliott T. Australian Trained International Medical Students.  PHC RED 2006, $12,500.

Laurence COM, Black L. Pre-vocational General Practice Placement Program, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 2006-2007 (1 grants) $213,00

Jones,A, Newbury J, Laurence COM, Laven G, Baillie S. Year 12 Medical Intention Project. Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, 2005-06 $147,000

Howell C, Laurence COM, Holton C. Point-of-care testing for the management of atrial fibrillation in general practice. RACGP Cardiovascular Research Grant in General Practice, 2003: $20,000

Ponte L, Baig Z, Laurence COM, Beilby J. Management of acute myocardial infarction by GPs in a rural setting. RACGP Cardiovascular Research Grant in General Practice, 2003: $25,000

Laurence COM.  Piloting a practice based research co-ordinator. PHC RED program grant $30,000. Department of General Practice, University of Adelaide and the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, 2003-2004.

Beilby JB, Laurence COM. Improving the integration of asthma management in a rural setting. Asthma Innovative Management Project, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, 2002: $60,000

Laurence COM, Black L, Sumner K. Characteristics and career determinants of Interns in South Australian in 2003. Department of Human Services, 2003: $30,000

Laurence COM.  From medical student to GP Supervisor: establishing a framework for vertical integration in a rural area through a clinical teaching program.  Innovation grant, General Practice Education and Training Inc, 2002: $95,000

Laurence COM.  Bridging the gap: online tutorials for Registrars and Supervisors; Innovation grant, General Practice Education and Training Inc, 2002: $60,000

 

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles:

Bubner T, Laurence CO, Tirimacco T. Assessing pathology training needs: results from a survey of general practice registrars.  Austrtalian Family Physician. 2012;41(9):721-724

Laurence CO, Docking D, Haydon D, Cheah C. Trainees in the practice: practical issues. Australian Family Physician. 2012; 41(1/2):14-17

Burchard A, Laurence C, Stocks N. Sexual health knowledge and practices of female international students at the University of Adelaide: A qualitative study. Australian Family Physician 2011; 40(10):817-820 

 Laurence CO, Black LE, Cheah C, Karnon J. Is different better?  Models of teaching and their influence on the net financial outcome for general practice teaching posts.  BMC Medical Education 2011;11:45

Laurence CO, Black LE, Rowe M, Pearce R. Getting governance right for a sustainable regionalised business model. Med J Aust. 2011:194:S92-S96

Tirimacco T, Glastonbury B, Laurence CO, Bubner TK, Shephard MD, Beilby JJ. Development of an accreditation program for Point of Care Testing (PoCT) in general practice. Aust Health Review 2011;35:230-234

Yelland LN, Salter AB, Ryan P, Laurence CO. Adjusted interclass correlation coefficients for binary data: methods and estimates from a randomized trial in primary care. Clinical Trials 2011;8:48-58

Laurence CO, Black LE, Karnon J, Briggs NE. To teach or not to teach? a cost-benefit analysis of teaching in private general practice.  Med J Aust, 2010;193:608-613

Elliott T, Laurence CO, McCaul. Fostering registrar research: a model to overcome barriers. Aust Fam Physician, 2010; 39(12):963-968

Laurence CO, Moss JR, Briggs NE, Beilby JJ. The cost-effectiveness of point of care testing in a general practice setting: results from a randomised controlled trial.  BMC Health Services Research, 2010, 10:165doi:10.1186/1472-6963-10-165

Laurence CO, Williamson V, Sumner, KE, Fleming J. “Latte rural”: the tangible and intangible factors important in the choice of a rural practice by recent GP graduates. Rural and Remote Health 2010;10:1316 (online). http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1316

Laurence CO, Gialamas A, Bubner T, Yelland L, Willson K, Ryan P, Beilby J and PoCT Trial Management Group. Patient satisfaction with point of care testing in general practice.  Br J Gen Pract. 2010;60:166-171

Laurence CO, Turnbull DA, Briggs NE, Robinson J. Applicant characteristics and their influence on success: results from an analysis of applicants to the University of Adelaide Medical School, 2004-2007.  Med J Aust 2010;192:212-216

Gialamas A; St John A; Laurence CO; Bubner T, PoCT, Management Committee.  Point of Care Testing for patients with diabetes, hyperlipidaemia or coagulation disorders in the general practice setting: a systematic review. Family Practice 2010;27:17-24.

Gialamas A, Laurence CO, Yelland LN, Tideman P, Worley P Shephard MD, Tirimacco R, Willson KJ Ryan P, Gill J, Thomas DW, Beilby JJ, PoCT Management Committee. Assessing agreement between point of care and laboratory results for lipid testing from a clinical perspective.  Clinical Biochemistry. 2010;43:515-518

Yelland L, Gialamas A, Laurence COM, Willson K, Ryan P, Beilby J.  Assessing agreement between point of care and pathology laboratory results for INR: Experiences from the Point of Care Testing Trial in general practice. Pathology 2010;42:155-159.

Hoggan B, Laven G, Newbury JW, Laurence C, Ryan V, Baillie S, Baker R. Rural student entry into a medical course: a South Australian rural high school perspective.  Rural and Remote Health 2009; 9:1223. http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1223

Elliott T, Bromley T, Chur-Hansen A, Laurence C. Expectations and experiences associated with rural GP Placements.  Rural Remote Health. Rural and Remote Health 2009;9:1264 (online). http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1264

Gialamas A, Yelland L, Ryan P, Willson K, Laurence CO, Bubner T, Tideman P, Beilby J. Does point-of-care testing lead to the same or better adherence to medication: Results from the PoCT in General Practice Trial. Med J Aust, 2009;191:487-491

Shephard MD, Mazzachi B, Watkinson L, Shephard A, Laurence C, Gialamas A, Bubner T. Design, implementation and results of a training support program for device operators in the Australian Government’s point of care testing in general practice trial.  Rural Remote Health; 2009;9:1189. http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1189

Laurence CO, Black LE.  Teaching capacity in general practice: results from a survey of practices and Supervisors in South Australia. Med J Aust,  2009;191:102-104

Bubner T, Laurence COM, Gialamas A, Yelland L, Ryan P, Willson K, Tideman P, Worley P, Beilby J. Effectiveness of point of care testing on therapeutic control for patients with chronic conditions (diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, anticoagulant therapy). Results from the PoCT Trial in general practice. Med J Aust 2009;190:624-626

Panozzo S, Laurence COM, Black L, Poole L.  An exploration of the preconceptions of living in a rural community by GP Registrar partners.  Aust J Rural Health, 2007;17:167-170

Laurence COM, Gialamas A, Yelland L, Bubner T, Ryan P, Willson K, Glastonbury B, Gill J, Shephard M, Beilby J. A pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the safety, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and satisfaction with point of care testing in a general practice setting - rationale, design and baseline characteristics BMC Trials 2008, 9:50 http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/10/1/7

Pearce R, Laurence COM, Black L, Stocks S. The challenges of teaching in a general practice setting. Med J Aust, 2007; 187:129-132

Laurence COM, Black LE.  A person-practice-program fit: evaluation of a GP training placement process.  Aust Fam Physician, 2007; 36:666-669

Martin A, Laurence COM, Black L, Mugford B. General practice terms for pre-registration junior doctors: adding value to intern education and training. Med J Aust 2007;7:346-349.

Laurence COM, Elliott T. The when, what and how South Australian Pre-registration junior medical officers’ career choices are made. Medical Education, 2007;41:467-475

Laurence COM, Beilby J, Campbell S, Campbell J, Ponte L, Woodward G. Process for improving the integration of care across the primary and acute care settings in rural South Australia: asthma as a case study. Aust J Rural Health, 2004;12: 264-268

Laurence COM, Burgess T, Beilby J, Symon B, Wilkinson D. Electronic medical records may be inadequate for improving population health status through general practice: cervical smears as a case study. ANZ J Public Health, 2004;28(4):317-320

Laurence COM, Wilkinson D. Towards more rural nursing and allied health services: current and potential rural activity in the Division of Health Sciences of the University of South Australia. Rural and Remote Health 2, 2002. http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=105

Laurence COM, Newbury J, Wilkinson D.  Increasing rural activity and curriculum content in the Adelaide University Medical School. Aust J Rural Health 2002;10.

Laurence C, Beilby J, Wilkinson D, Newbury J, JE Marley, Symon B.  Establishing practice based primary care research network: The University Family Practice Network in South Australia Aust Fam Physician 2001;30(5):508-512

Wilkinson D, Beilby J, Thompson D, Laven G, Chamberlain N, Laurence C. Influence of rural background on where South Australian general practitioners work. Med J Aust 2000;173(3):137-40

Moorhead RG, Laurence COM. Continuing medical education needs for local general practitioners Aust Fam Phys 1994;23:1929-1933

Moorhead RG, Laurence C. Health of a team competing in the 1990 World Solar Car Challenge J Roy Soc Med 1992;85:334-337

Book chapters:

Jacobs JM, Laurence C, Thomas F. Re-evaluating the early history of the Colebrook Home for Aboriginal Children in Swain T, Rose DB (eds) Aborigines and Christianity: Anthropological and historical studies 1988

Entry last updated: Monday, 17 Dec 2012