The following describes the 2006 gynaecology and women's health research activities of the Royal Women's Hospital. This page is under development.
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Gynaecology assessment clinic
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The predominant research area for 2006 for the Women’s Gynaecology Assessment Clinic was an observational research project evaluating Nurse Practitioner assessment of abnormal vaginal bleeding.
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The research was undertaken in consultation with Murdoch Institute Clinical Epidemiologist, Dr Susan Donath, and comprised several phases. Phase 1 benchmarked the existing Clinical Practice Guideline against the AGREE Collaboration, Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation. Phase 2 evaluated the applicability of the existing Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practice Guideline in clinical practice and Phase 3 evaluated Nurse Practitioner clinical skills in the Gynaecology Assessment Clinic. Phase 2 & 3 both incorporated a number of audit tools including a clinical audit of patient records and medical, ultrasound and patient questionnaires.
Findings from this research are currently been translated into clinical practice in the Gynaecology Assessment Clinic through collaborative review of the Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practice Guideline.
During 2006 this research was presented at a number of conferences.
Nurse Practitioner Catherine Watson identified recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis as an area lacking in randomised controlled trials to support evidence based clinical management, and that women are often given inconsistent advice. As a part of her studies for Master of Nursing Science at UniSA, and under the supervision of Dr Helen Calabretto, Ms Watson prepared the manuscript for publication, produced a patient information booklet and developed a generic clinical practice guideline for nurse practitioners. The patient information booklet, “Not that Itch Again” was published by the Women’s in August 2007 and has received resounding endorsement by both consumers and clinicians.
Ms Watson has also presented her work at a number of professional forums including the Australian Nurse Practitioners’ Conference in October 2006. Importantly, it is envisaged that her findings will inform the developing role of the Nurse Practitioner in the Vulva Disorders Clinic at the Women’s.
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