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Governance and Ethics
Data for Decisions is underpinned by strong ethical principles, transparency and world class data governance and security.
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Security and Privacy
Find out about The University of Melbourne developed and controlled software and secure data storage systems designed to keep information safe and on-shore.
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Meet Us
Meet the team who administer and look after the Patron data.
About Data for Decisions
The ‘secondary’ use of de-identified medical records is widely recognised to have the potential to improve public health. Individual patient records are important to doctors and individuals, but when de-identified (to maintain anonymity and patient privacy) and combined with many thousands of other records, a powerful research tool is created with the potential to generate new knowledge to improve health care.
Data for Decisions, incorporating the Patron program of research, is a University of Melbourne research initiative undertaken through the University’s Department of General Practice and Primary Care. With the permission of general practices or other primary care providers, we collate data from de-identified medical records and use the information for research to increase knowledge, quality improvement and improve healthcare practices. The data is stored in a University of Melbourne managed primary-care data repository called Patron. An independent Data Governance Committee made up of members of the public, GPs, practice managers, researchers and a lawyer, makes a determination on behalf of the data providers on which researchers/research projects can access the data.
In some instances, the primary care providers agree to provide their de-identified data to be used only for a specific research project instead of being made available to a range of projects.
The first practices consented to contribute to Data for Decisions in late 2017, but the program had been under development since 2016, building on strong foundations of international good practice in data governance and management.
Want to know more? Click below to access our library of informational videos.
Featured content
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GPs & Practice Managers
Information for GPs and Practice Managers thinking about contributing to Data for Decisions.
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Consumers & Patients
Information for healthcare consumers about the Data for Decisions research initiative.
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Researchers
Information for researchers wishing to access data in the Patron primary care data repository.
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Using data to expand knowledge
Data for Decisions focuses on the use of de-identified data from general practice medical records to expand knowledge and ultimately promote service and population health improvements. Every research project that accesses the data stored in the Patron primary care data repository does so only after meeting rigorous data governance and ethics requirements. Each project using Patron data is described below, and each research group will provide a reader-friendly summary of their findings, and list of resulting publications, when available.
Publications
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Cancer
- Lee, A., McCarthy, D., Bergin, RJ., Drosdowsky, A., Martinez Gutierrez, J., Kearney, C., Philip, S., Rafiq, M., Venning, B., Wawryk, O., Zhang, J., Emery, K., Data Resource Profile: Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Data Connect, International Journal of Epidemiology, 2023;, dyad148, https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyad148
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Data
- El-Hayek, C., Barzegar, S., Faux, N., Doyle, K., Pillai, P., Mutch, S. J., Vaisey, A., Ward, R., Sanci, L., Dunn, A. G., Hellard, M. E., Hocking, J. S., Verspoor, K., & Boyle, D. I. R. (2023). An evaluation of existing text de-identification tools for use with patient progress notes from Australian general practice. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 173, 105021. ISSN 1386-5056. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105021.
- Manski-Nankervis, J., Canaway, R., Chidgey, C., Emery, J., Sanci, L., Hocking, J.S., Davidson, S., Swan, I. and Boyle, D. (2024). Data Resource Profile: Primary Care Audit, Teaching and Research Open Network (Patron). International journal of epidemiology, [online] 53(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyae002.
- Ward, R., Hallinan, CM., Ormiston-Smith, D., Chidgey, C. and Boyle, D. (2024). The OMOP common data model in Australian primary care data: Building a quality research ready harmonised dataset. PloS one, 19(4), pp.e0301557–e0301557. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301557.
- Canaway, R., Chidgey, C., Hallinan, C.M., Capurro D, Boyle D (2024) Undercounting diagnoses in Australian general practice: a data quality study with implications for population health reporting. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 24, 155 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-024-02560-w
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General Practice
- Abraham P, Manski-Nankervis J, Biezen R, Hallinan C, Gibney K, Sanci L, Ride J. Costing of an Australian general practice COVID-19 drive-through testing and respiratory clinic. BMC Prim Care. 2022; 23: 58. doi: 10.1186/s12875-022-01664-4
- Tu K, Sarkadi Kristiansson R, Gronsbell J on behalf of INTRePID, et al. Changes in primary care visits arising from the COVID-19 pandemic: an international comparative study by the International Consortium of Primary Care. Big Data Researchers (INTRePID)BMJ Open 2022;12:e059130. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059130
- Augusto, A., Deitz, T., Faux, N., Manski-Nankervis, J.-A. and Capurro, D. (2022). Process mining-driven analysis of COVID-19’s impact on vaccination patterns. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 130, p.104081. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2022.104081.
- Peng, K., Tu, K., Li, Z., Hallinan, CM., Laughlin, A., Manski‐Nankervis, J., Apajee, J., Lapadula, MC., Ortigoza, A., Da Roza, CC., Baste, V., Flottorp, S., Wensaas, KA., Goh, LH., Ling, ZJ., Kristiansson, R., Gaona, G., Pace, W.D., Westfall, J.M. and Pui, A. (2023). Global impacts of COVID‐19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health services: An international comparative study on primary care from the INTRePID Consortium. BJOG, 131(4), pp.508–517. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17704.
- Silva-Valencia J, Lapadula C, Westfall JM, Gaona G, de Lusignan S, Kristiansson RS, Ling ZJ, Goh LH, Soto-Becerra P, Cuba-Fuentes MS, Wensaas KA, Flottorp S, Baste V, Chi-Wai Wong W, Pui Ng AP, Ortigoza A, Manski-Nankervis JA, Hallinan CM, Zingoni P, Scattini L, Heald A, Tu K; INTRePID. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health visits in primary care: an interrupted time series analysis from nine INTRePID countries. EClinicalMedicine 70 (2024)
- Sleaby. R, Canaway. R, Manski-Nankervis. JA, Boyle. D. 2024. Figshare. Understanding General Practice perspectives and data repositories to prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes – an Australian 2-phase mixed methods study. https://figshare.com/s/a85905728b085bab1939 DOI: 10.26188/27221436
- Westfall JM, Bonilla AO, Lapadula MC, Zingoni PL, Wong WCW, Wensaas KA, Pace WD, Silva-Valencia J, Scattini LF, Ng APP, Manski-Nankervis J-A, Ling ZJ, Li Z, Heald AH, Laughlin A, Kristiansson RS, Hallinan CM, Goh LH, Gaona G, Flottorp S, de Lusignan S, Cuba-Fuentes MS, Baste V and Tu K (2024) Changes in primary care visits for respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multinational study by the International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID). Front. Med. 11:1343646. doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1343646
- Tu K, Lapadula MC, Apajee J, Bonilla AO, Baste V, Cuba-Fuentes MS, de Lusignan S, Flottorp S, Gaona G, Goh LH, Hallinan CM, Kristiansson RS, Laughlin A, Li Z, Ling ZJ, Manski-Nankervis JA, Ng APP, Scattini LF, Silva-Valencia J, Pace WD, Wensaas KA, Wong WCW, Zingoni PL, Westfall JM; INTRePID. Changes in reasons for visits to primary care after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic: An international comparative study by the International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID). PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Aug 22;4(8):e0003406. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003406. PMID: 39173045; PMCID: PMC11341054.
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Prescribing
- Monaghan T, Biezen R, Buising K, Hallinan C, Cheah R, Manski-Nankervis J. Clinical insights into appropriate choice of antimicrobials for acute respiratory tract infections. AJGP 2022,Vol 51 1-2, doi: 10.31128/AJGP-07-21-6073
- Hallinan, C.M., Gunn, J.M. and Bonomo, Y.A. (2022). Use of electronic medical records to monitor the safe and effective prescribing of medicinal cannabis: is it feasible? Australian Journal of Primary Health. doi:https://doi.org/10.1071/py22054.
- Teoh, L., Hopcraft, M., McCullough, M., Manski‐Nankervis, J., Biezen, R. (2022). Exploring the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing for dental presentations in Australian general practice—A pilot study. BJCP. British journal of clinical pharmacology/British journal of clinical pharmacology, 89(5), pp.1554–1559. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.15617.
- Australian Journal of General Practice. (2023). Antimicrobials for respiratory tract infections. [online] Available at: https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2022/january-february/antimicrobials-for-respiratory-infections-1
- Carville, K.S., Meagher, N., Abo, Y.-N., Manski-Nankervis, J., Fielding, J., Steer, A., McVernon, J., Price, D.J. (2024). Burden of antimicrobial prescribing in primary care attributable to sore throat: a retrospective cohort study of patient record data. BMC primary care, 25(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02371-y.
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Sexual Health
- Jung, J., R. Biezen, Goller, J.L., Hocking, J., P. Chondros and J. Manski-Nankervis (2023). The chlamydia care cascade of young people attending Australian general practices; a descriptive study to assess gaps in care. Sexual health, 20(6), pp.542–549. doi:https://doi.org/10.1071/sh23096.
- Goller, J.L., Coombe, J., Bittleston, H., Bourne, C., Bateson, D., Vaisey, A., Tomnay, J., O’Donnell, H., Garret, C., Estcourt, C.S., Temple-Smith, M. and Hocking, J.S. (2021). Patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydia infection is used by some general practitioners, but more support is needed to increase uptake: findings from a mixed-methods study. Sexually Transmitted Infections, p.sextrans-2020-054933. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2020-054933.
- Coombe, J., Goller, J., Bittleston, H., Bateson, D., Bourne, C., O’Donnell, H., Tomnay, J., Temple-Smith, M. and Hocking, J.S. (2022). Patient-delivered partner therapy: One option for management of sexual partner(s) of a patient diagnosed with a chlamydia infection. Australian Journal of General Practice, 51(6), pp.425–429. doi:https://doi.org/10.31128/ajgp-07-21-6066.
- Peng, K., Tu, K., Li, Z., Hallinan, CM., Laughlin, A., Manski‐Nankervis, J., Apajee, J., Lapadula, MC., Ortigoza, A., Da Roza, CC., Baste, V., Flottorp, S., Wensaas, KA., Goh, LH., Ling, ZJ., Kristiansson, R., Gaona, G., Pace, W.D., Westfall, J.M., and Pui, A. (2023). Global impacts of COVID‐19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health services: An international comparative study on primary care from the INTRePID Consortium. BJOG, 131(4), pp.508–517. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17704.
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Vaccination
- Augusto, A., Deitz, T., Faux, N., Manski-Nankervis, J., and Capurro, D. (2022). Process mining-driven analysis of COVID-19’s impact on vaccination patterns. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 130, p.104081. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2022.104081.
Practice List
There are 142 general practices across Australia that have chosen to partner with the Data for Decisions program. We are thankful to each and every one. This list is an approximate representation of those participating practices as some have consented to be publicly acknowledged while others wish to remain anonymous. Since 2019, our participation consent form lets practices choose whether or not they would like to be acknowledged on this website. If you are a practice that joined in 2018 and you would like to be acknowledged here, please contact us.
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Victorian Practices
- Aim Health Medical Centre Level 1, 253 Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000; Phone: 03 9005 2118
- Anglesea Medical 3 McMillan Street, Anglesea 3230; Phone: 03 9215 6700
- Bell Post Medical Clinic 290-306 Anakie Road, Norlane 3214
- Bendigo Primary Care Centre 123 Arnold Street, Bendigo 3550; Phone: 03 5441 8622
- Campaspe Family Practice 2-25 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Kyneton 3444; Web: https://www.campaspefp.com.au
- Charlton Medical 2 Learmonth Street, Charlton 3525; Phone: 03 5477 6888
- Churinga Medical Centre 465 Mt Dandenong Road, Kilsyth 3137; Phone: 03 9722 9888
- Coolaroo Clinic512 Barry Road, Broadmeadows 3048; Phone: 03 9309 7011
- Corio Medical Clinic 1 Bacchus Marsh Road, Corio 3214; Phone: 03 5274 9499
- Croydon Medical Centre 88-90 Main Street, Croydon 3136; Phone: 03 9723 4195
- Deepdene Surgery 71 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn 3103; Phone: 03 9817 4233
- Donald Family Clinic 7 McCracken Avenue, Donald 3480; Phone: 03 5497 1100
- Eastbrooke Family Clinic Lincolnville 493-495 Keilor Road, Niddrie 3042; Phone: 03 9289 3333
- Forsyth Park Medical Centre 200 Forsyth Road, Truganina 3029; Phone: 03 8360 5359
- Friendly Medical 83 Watton Street, Werribee 3030
- Gladstone Park Medical Clinic 323 Mickleham Road, Tullamarine 3043; Phone: 03 9330 2533
- Guardian Medical Highpoint 200 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong 3032; Phone: 03 9318 4000
- Guardian Medical Showgrounds Village Shop 1, Showgrounds Village Shopping Centre, 320 Epsom Road, Flemington 3031; Phone: 03 9372 3600
- HealthWest Medical and Specialist Centre 549 Morris Road, Truganina 3029; Phone: 03 8360 3877
- Hoppers Lane General Practice 242 Hoppers Lane, Werribee 3030; Phone: 03 8731 6500
- Lincolnville Medical Centre 25 McFarlane Street, Keilor East 3033; Phone: 03 9337 2200
- Maidstone Family Clinic 191 Ballarat Road, Maidstone 3012; Phone: 03 9318 1881
- Mediscreen Clinic 799 Toorak Road, Hawthorn East 3123; Phone: 03 8922 3105
- Modern Medical Balwyn 1/349-381 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn 3103; Phone: 03 9813 7600
- Modern Medical Caroline Springs Suite 3A 1042 Western Highway, Caroline Springs 3023; Phone: 03 8358 0100
- Modern Medical Craigieburn 6/1-9 Mareeba Way, Craigieburn 3064; Phone 03 8339 7450
- Modern Medical Glenroy Level 1, 3/789 Pascoe Vale Road, Glenroy 3046; Phone 03 8311 4204
- Modern Medical Dandenong 176 Londsale Street, Dandenong 3175; Phone: 03 8763 8900
- Modern Medical St Kilda Road Level 1, 391 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004; Phone: 03 9869 2000
- Murchison Medical Clinic 21 Impey Street, Murchison 3610; Phone: 03 5826 2575
- MyClinic Bacchus Marsh 12 Gell Street, Bacchus Marsh 3340; Phone: 03 5367 8000
- MyClinic Balaclava 161-163 Carlisle Street, Balaclava 3183; Phone: 03 9531 8383
- MyClinic Bourke Street Mall Shop 108, 283-297 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000; Phone: 03 9650 5630
- MyClinic Melbourne 91 William Street, Melbourne 3000; Phone: 03 9620 5299
- MyClinic Tarneit 412 Derrimut Road, Tarneit 3029; Phone: 03 8742 2088
- MyClinic Werribee 156, 167-179 Shaws Road, Werribee 3030; Phone: 03 9290 9898
- MyClinic Werribee Village Shop 10, 167-179 Shaws Road, Werribee 3030; Phone: 03 8742 3002
- MyHealth Brunswick (formerly Moreland General Practice) 80 Moreland Road, Brunswick 3056; Phone: 03 9385 1250
- O'Herns Road Medical Clinic 62A Manor House, Epping, 3076; Phone: 03 9408 6333
- Parkwood Green Medical Centre Suite 4, 1-5 Kate Way, Hillside 3037; Phone: 03 9449 4100
- Peak Medical GPC Hoppers Crossing Shopping Centre, 50 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 3029; Phone: 03 9020 2600
- Plantation Medical Clinic 14 Plantation Road, Corio 3214; Phone: 03 9020 2600
- Polaris Medical Centre 32 Copernicus Crescent, Bundoora 3083; Phone: 03 9227 3300
- Portland Family Clinic 156 Percy Street, Portland 3305; Phone: 03 5523 7144
- Robinson Street Medical Centre 7 Robinson Street, Camperdown 3260; Phone: 03 5593 7070
- Rochdale Medical Centre 1A Rochdale Square, Lalor 3075; Phone: 03 9706 5168
- Ross Court Medical Complex 35 Ross Street, Niddrie 3042; Phone: 03 9379 8610
- St Mina Medical T/A Family Care Medical Centre 404-406 Huntingdale Road, Mount Waverley 3149; Phone: 03 9807 0022
- Sun Crescent Medical Clinic 29 Sun Crescent, Sunshine 3020; Phone: 03 9312 6050
- Tatura Medical Centre 4 Thomson Street, Tatura 3616; Phone: 03 5824 1244
- The Clinic Sunshine 53 Devonshire Road, Sunshine 3020; Phone: 03 9311 0691
- The University of Melbourne Shepparton Medical Centre Web: https://shepmed.mthc.com.au
- Toorak Medical Centre 89-100 Mathoura Road, Toorak 3142; Web: https://www.toorakmedicalcentre.com.au
- Utopia Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health 5 Alexandra Avenue, Hoppers Crossing 3029; Web: https://www.utopiarefugeehealth.com/
- Victoria Harbour Medical Centre 850 Collins Street, Docklands 3008; Phone: 03 9629 1414
- Women's Health Hub 236 Hoppers Lane, Werribee 3030; Phone: 03 8352 5441
- Wynhamvale Health Care 127 Ballan Road, Wyndham Vale 3024; Phone: 03 9742 5148
- Yarra Medical - Richmond 486 Victoria Street, Richmond 3121; Phone: 03 9428 6200
- Yarra Medical - The Hive Shop 25 3/3 Victoria Street, Abbotsford 3067; Phone: 03 9027 6262
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Queensland Practices
- Goomeri Family Medical Practice 10 Moore Street, Goomeri 4601; Phone: 07 4168 4244
- Murgon Family Practice 43A Stephen Street West, Murgon 4605; Phone: 07 4168 2722
- Wondai Family Medical Centre 18 MacKenzie Street, Wondai 4606; Phone: 07 4168 5050
Practice Heat Map by PHN
Hover over a PHN to view practice details.
Use the +/- to zoom in /out and see our practice locations across Australia.
If you are part of a general practice and are interested in becoming a Data for Decisions partner, please contact us.
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For General Practices
- General Practice waiting room poster
- Patient Information Statement PDF, 139.06 KB
- Introductory Q&A flyer about Data for Decisions and the Patron program of research
- GP Information Statement PDF, 128.5 KB
- Consent for Practices to be acknowledged on this website
- Instructions to withdraw patient data
- Introduction to GRHANITE software
- VicREN Membership form (membership is free)
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For Researchers
- Patron Data Security Guidelines for Applicants and Recipients
- Patron Summary for Ethics Applications
- Research Data Access Flowchart
- Patron Databook for researchers
- Data Access Agreement - Summary and researcher checklist
- Introductory presentation about working with Patron data
- Application dates for Patron Data
- For Data Governance Committee
Data for Decisions 2024 Report
The Data for Decisions program collects de-identified data from participating general practices to create a powerful research tool with the potential to generate new knowledge and improve healthcare.
We invite you to view the inaugural flipbook edition of the D4D Report. This report includes the latest research updates, project summaries and program data.
The report is best viewed in full screen mode. Click the icon in the top right hand corner of the image to begin.
2023 Update
Thank you to all the practices that contribute EMR data to the Data for Decisions research initiative. This data is used by researchers across Australia with the aim of developing interventions or tools that can help GPs and patients make informed decisions about optimising their health.
Research Initiative
See our open access article - Gathering Data for Decisions - in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Rachel Canaway, Douglas IR Boyle, Jo‐Anne E Manski‐Nankervis, Jessica Bell, Jane S Hocking, Ken Clarke, Malcolm Clark, Jane M Gunn and Jon D EmeryMed J Aust 2019; 210 (6): S12-S16. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50026
Introducing Data for Decisions
To be fully informed, listen to the full discussion about Data for Decisions (filmed April 2018):
Research Initiative (extended version)
The Data for Decisions program collects and uses de-identified patient information for research in an ethical and secure way. The information is stored in a database managed by the University of Melbourne. Data contributed by general practices will help to improve the way medical care is delivered and inform the education of future health professionals.
Patron Administrator
Department of General Practice and Primary Care
The University of Melbourne
Level 2 West (Reception), Medical Building (Building 181)
Melbourne
Victoria 3004
AUSTRALIA
Email: patron-support@unimelb.edu.au
Or follow the link below to complete the enquiry form