Introduction

The Australian Primary Care Collaboratives (APCC) is a quality improvement (QI) program involving multidisciplinary teams working together to improve the quality of primary care.  The Collaborative methodology has had great success in the UK, US and Australia by improving care processes and health outcomes.  Despite this success, only 20% of Australian General Practices have currently participated in a Collaborative.

The aim of this study is to improve our understanding of Primary Health Care Collaboratives in terms of uptake, utilisation, sustainability and spread.  Evidence on the mechanisms that promote and sustain QI within Australian general practice will assist in the provision of best practice primary care.

Method

Qualitative interviews across six states with: General Practitioners, Practice Managers and Nurses that have participated in APCC; Collaborative Program Managers; key informants from the APCC auspice organisation, Improvement Foundation Australia.

Results

Factors found important to General Practices were the network of organisational relationships, Practice characteristics, program characteristics and the availability of resources.  Factors enabling General Practices to engage included an understanding and belief in QI processes and a team approach with a change champion or driver.  Barriers to sustainability and spread included competing demands on time and resources and an inadequate or incomplete innovation diffusion process.

Conclusion

This study examines the implementation of the APCC program from the experience of those directly involved in its uptake, utilisation, sustainability and spread. Unpacking the enabling factors and barriers experienced in General Practice in Australia, framed against the theory of QI innovation, provides guidance on increasing uptake and encouraging spread.