Dr Karen Gardner
Areas of expertise
- Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health 111701
- Health And Community Services 111708
- Primary Health Care 111717
- Public Health And Health Services 1117
Biography
Karen Gardner (BA. MPH, PhD) is a health services researcher with a background in sociology and postgraduate qualifications in population health. She is a Fellow with the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI). Her PhD investigated the sustainability of a large scale quality improvement program in Aboriginal primary health care. She has extensive experience in the use of qualitative methods in large scale mixed methods evaluations and is currently leading the evaluation of a continuous quality improvement program in Aboriginal Community Controlled primary health care services in Western Australia. Her research aims to understand the social aspects of the design, organisation, implementation and routinisation of health service interventions to improve the quality and outcomes of primary health care programs, particularly for underserved populations. She is currently a member of the National Committee on outcome based reporting in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, Australian Department of Health.
Researcher's projects
- The Effective Policy Implementation Project
- Sustainability of continuous quality improvement in Indigenous primary health care
- Assessing the effectiveness of organizational interventions in Quality Improvement programs: Systematic review.
- Care improvement in WA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Services.
Current student projects
Sharon Leigh-Hazell, PhD Panel Advisor: Models of care for older persons with chronic mental illness
MBBS Student Research Projects
Grace Garden (2014-15). Cultural awareness and health service delivery
Past student projects
Tanisha Joswey, PhD Panel. Project: Chronic illness time (awarded 2014)
MBBS Student Research Projects
Sarah Lovibond (2013) Assessing readiness for quality improvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services
Jessica Reeks (2013) Development of a Team Effectiveness Measure for interprofessional primary health care teams
Publications
- Gardner, K, Parkinson, A, Banfield, M et al 2015, 'Usability of patient experience surveys in Australian primary health care: a scoping review', Australian Journal of Primary Health, 22 (2), 93 - 99.
- Schierhout, G, Panaretto, K, Copley, K et al 2014, Recommendations for a National CQI Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care.
- Gardner, K, Parkinson, A, Banfield, M et al. 2014, Environmental scan of patient experience surveys used in primary health care.
- Gardner, K, Banfield, M, McRae, I et al 2014, 'Improving coordination through information continuity: a framework for translational research', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 14, no. 590, pp. 1-5.
- Brusse, C, Gardner, K, McAullay, D et al 2014, 'Social media and mobile apps for health promotion in Australian indigenous populations: Scoping review', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 16, no. 12, pp. 56-70.
- Yen, L, Parkinson, A & Gardner, K 2014, Evaluation of the Medicare Local Implementation Adviser Role. APHCRI Reports
- Gardner, K, Yen, L, Banfield, M et al 2013, 'From coordinated care trials to medicare locals: What difference does changing the policy driver from efficiency to quality make for coordinating care?', International Journal for Quality in Health Care, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 50-57.
- Banfield, M, Gardner, K, McRae, I et al 2013, 'Unlocking information for coordination of care in Australia: a qualitative study of information continuity in four primary health care models', BMC Family Practice Journal, vol. 14, no. 34, pp. 1-21.
- Panaretto, K, Gardner, K, Button, S et al 2013, 'Prevention and management of chronic disease in Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Services in Queensland: a quality improvement study assessing change in selected clinical performance indicators over time in a cohort of services', BMJ Open, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. e002759/1-13.
- Jowsey, T, Ward, N & Gardner, K 2013, 'Agents in time: Representations of chronic illness. Health Sociology Review, 22(3): 243–254.
- Banfield, M, Gardner, K, Yen, L et al 2012, 'Coordination of care in Australian mental health policy', Australian Health Review, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 153-157.
- Gardner, K, Bailie, R, Si, D et al 2011, 'Reorienting primary health care for addressing chronic conditions in remote Australia and the South Pacific: Review of evidence and lessons from an innovative quality improvement process', Australian Journal of Rural Health, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 111-117.
- Brands J, Griffin J, Bailie R (Editors) with Hains J, Cox R, Kennedy C, Kwedza R, Liddle H, Fittock M, O'Donoghue L, Lonergan K, Gardner K, Si D, Clelland N, Cliffe C. 2010. Improving the quality of primary health care: A training manual for the One21seventy cycle. Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin.
- Bailie, R, Si, D, Shannon, C et al. 2010, 'Study protocol: National Research Partnership to Improve Primary Health Care Performance and Outcomes for Indigenous Peoples', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 10, no. 129, pp. 129-129.
- Gardner, K, Dowden, M, Togni, S et al, 2010. 'Understanding uptake of continuous quality improvement in Indigenous primary health care: lessons from a multi-site case study of the Audit and Best Practice for Chronic Disease project', Implementation Science. 5:21.
- Gardner, K, Sibthorpe, B & Longstaff, D 2008, 'National quality and performance system for Divisions of General Practice: early reflections on a system under development', Australia and New Zealand Health Policy, vol. 5, no. 8, p. 8.
- Bailie, R, Sibthorpe, B, Gardner, K et al 2008, 'Quality improvement in Indigenous primary health care: History, current initiatives and future directions', Australian Journal of Primary Health, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 5.
- McRae, I, Butler, J, Sibthorpe, B et al. 2008, 'A cost-effectiveness study of integrated care in health services: a diabetes program in Australia', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 8, p. 11.
- Bailie, R, Si, D, Connnors C et al 2008, 'Study Protocol: Audit and Best Practice for Chronic Disease Extension (ABCDE) Project', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 8, no. 184, p. 7.
- Sibthorpe, B & Gardner, K 2007, 'A Conceptual Framework for Performance Assessment in Primary Health Care', Australian Journal of Primary Health, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 96-103.
- Gardner K, Lyons S, Rubiano D, Scotney A, Glasgow N. 2007.Primary health care and readiness for school: A systematic review of the role of primary health care in promoting children's readiness for school. Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute.
- Gardner, K, Sibthorpe, B, McRae, I & Rubiano, D. 2006 Southern Highlands Division of General Practice Diabetes Program: Report on Implementation. Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, Australian National University. .
- McRae, I, Sibthorpe, B, Rubiano, D & Gardner K. 2006. Assessing the Cost Impacts of a Division Diabetes Program. Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, Australian National University.
- Gardner, K & Fitzpatrick, C 2003, 'Creating community pride: the Bridgewater-Gagebrook urban renewal program', in Weeks W, Hoatson L, Dixon J. (ed.), Community Practice in Australia, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest NSW, pp. 47-52.
- Sibthorpe B, Gardner K & Eades S (2003) Primary Care Performance Indicators for Indigenous Specific Services and Programs funded by the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: First Report. National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health. The Australian National University.
- Gardner, K & Sibthorpe, B 2002, 'Impediments to change in an Australian trial of coordinated care', Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, vol. 7, no. Suppl 1, pp. S1:2-7.
- Dixon, J, Sibthorpe, B, Gardner, K et al 2001, Joint Ways of Working to Reduce Health Inequalities: A Discussion Paper produced for the Department of Family and Community Services. National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health. The Australian National University.
- Sibthorpe B, Drinkwater J, Gardner K & Bammer G. (1995) Drug Use, Binge Drinking and Attempted Suicide Among Homeless Youth. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Vol 29(2): 248-256
