Professor Sally Hall Dykgraaf
Areas of expertise
- Health Services And Systems 4203
- Rural And Remote Health Services 420321
- General Practice 420304
- Primary Health Care 420319
- Nursing 4205
- Social Determinants Of Health 420606
Research interests
Rural health and healthcare delivery
Complexity science and the ecology of healthcare
Variation in clinical practice
The role of generalism in healthcare systems
Safety, quality & clinical governance in primary health care
The impact of interprofessional and interpersonal relationships on healthcare delivery
Qualitative and mixed methods research
Nursing in general practice
Chronic disease management in primary care
Biography
Sally Hall Dykgraaf is a health services researcher based in the ANU Rural Clinical School. She has extensive experience in the management and analysis of qualitative data and mixed methods approaches, as well as the use of methods such as Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Social Network Analysis. She has expertise in the use of novel and innovative research methods and techniques, such as rapid appraisal and ethnographic observation, and experience in using deliberative and collaborative approaches to data synthesis and interpretation. She also has experience in the design and implementation of program evaluations and has participated in numerous consultancy projects including contracts with State funded health services and Primary Healthcare organisations.
She has undertaken, with colleagues, research exploring the role of nurses in general practice, inter-professional learning, the use of practice guidelines in clinical decision making, clinical governance and integration in primary care settings, the community impact of rural medical education, advance care planning in rural residential aged care, and a cluster-randomised trial of triage by non-clinical staff in general practice. Her doctoral research explored clinical practice variation in general practice management of chronic disease, using social ecological systems and complexity theory, and employed QCA to examine data derived from pooled electronic medical records.
Sally is a Registered Nurse with a background in rural critical care and post graduate qualifications in clinical management. She has worked clinically in general practice, hospital and public health settings, and as the Director of Policy and Planning with a rural NSW Division of General Practice, where she was instrumental in developing locally based quality improvement initiatives for general practices including the establishment of the initial wave of the Australian Primary Care Collaboratives. She also has experience in clinical quality systems, and governance development and implementation in the publicly-funded health sector, having worked as the Manager of Clinical Health Improvement for a NSW Area Health Service.
In 2003 she was one of two inaugural recipients of the National Institute for Clinical Studies' GP Leader Awards, and was a foundation member of the Research Advisory Board of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, as well as a member of Royal Australian College of General Practioners (RACGP) National Research & Evaluation Ethics Committee from 2013 to 2022. From March 2020 to early 2023, Sally was seconded to the Commonwealth Department of Health undertaking action research alongside the COVID-19 Primary Care Response Group. This work included undertaking rapid reviews and evidence synthesis to inform policy decision making, and description and publication of the COVID-19 policy response for the academic record.
Researcher's projects
Systematic review of multisectoral approaches to primary care and their impact on health system performance.
Systematic review of strategies to protect aged care residents during COVID-19
Ecological determinants of healthcare utilisation and outcomes in rural and remote settings - a living systematic review
ANU College of Health & Medicine COVID-19 Primary Care Action Research Team seconded to Australian Government department of Health COVID-19 Primary Care Response Group
COVID-19 Quick Clinician Survey - see website below
Enhancing quality and safety through guidelines in chronic disease management – a comparison of decision-making processes.
National evaluation working group - Regional Training Hubs
Current student projects
Understanding change in rural intention during medical school
Review of simulation education in rural medical training
Rural conceptualisations of health and wellbeing
Medical student perceptions of racism in rural clinical practice
Patient perceptions of quality in rural healthcare
Extreme weather events and impact on clinical practice in SE NSW
Past student projects
Influences on preferred mode of birth after caesarean in rural South Eastern NSW
An analysis of stressors within Australian general practice during the 2020 COVID19 outbreak
Understanding medical student's perceptions of rurality
Assessing the effect of rideshare services on healthcare access in rural areas
Effects of rural internship programs on access to care and health outcomes of rural and remote communities
Perceptions of quality of care among rural and urban clinicians in Australia
The impact of student-led health screenings in rural communities on engagement with primary care services
Who's responsible? Understanding clinician's views and attitudes to coordination of healthcare in the ambulatory setting
Clinincal decision making and adherence to diabetes management guidelines
Clinical decision making and adherence to guidelines for chronic respiratory disease
Publications
- Desborough, J, Hall Dykgraaf, S, Sturgiss , E et al. 2022, 'What has the COVID-19 pandemic taught us about the use of virtual consultations in primary care?', Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 179-183.
- Rainsford, S, Hall Dykgraaf, S & Phillips, C 2022, 'Effectiveness of telehealth palliative care Needs Rounds in rural residential aged care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation study', Australian Journal of Rural Health, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 108-114.
- Sturgiss, E, Dut, G, Matenge, S et al. 2022, 'COVID-19 and access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for young people: An overview of the international literature and policy', Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 271-277.
- Sturgiss, E, Desborough, J, Hall Dykgraaf, S et al. 2022, 'Digital health to support primary care provision during a global pandemic', Australian Health Review, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 269-272.
- O'Brien, K, Barnes, K, Hall Dykgraaf, S et al. 2022, 'COVID-19 vaccinations and counselling: A mixed-methods survey of Australian general practice in July 2021', Australian Journal of Primary Health, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 399-407.
- Munindradasa, A, Blashki, G, Hall Dykgraaf, S et al. 2021, 'General practitioner management of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic', Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 50, no. 7, pp. 472-477.
- Parkinson, A, Drew, J, Hall Dykgraaf, S et al. 2021, ''They're getting a taste of our world': A qualitative study of people with multiple sclerosis' experiences of accessing health care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Australian Capital Territory', Health Expectations, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 1607-1617.
- Hall Dykgraaf, S, Matenge, S, Desborough, J et al. 2021, 'Protecting Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities From COVID-19: A Rapid Review of International Evidence', Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, vol. 22, pp. 1969-1988.
- Rainsford, S, Hall Dykgraaf, S, Kasim, R et al. 2021, 'Strengthening advance care planning in rural residential aged care through multidisciplinary educational case conferences: A hybrid implementation-effectiveness study', Progress in Palliative Care, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 199-208.
- Matenge, S, Sturgiss , E, Desborough, J et al. 2021, 'Ensuring the continuation of routine primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of the international literature', Family Practice, vol. 2021, no. 4, pp. 1-15.
- Douglas, K, Hall Dykgraaf, S, O'Brien, K et al. 2021, 'Quick COVID Clinician Survey Summary (Australia), series 1-4', Annals of Family Medicine.
- Desborough, J, Hall, S, Davis, S, Kidd, M. 2021, 'Reflecting on Australia's five principles for pandemic response in primary care through the lens of early international experiences of Covid 19', Australian Journal of General Practice.
- Hall, S, Desborough, J, de Toca , L et al. 2021, '"A decade's worth of work in a matter of days": The journey to telehealth for the whole population in Australia', International Journal of Medical Informatics, vol. 151, pp. 1-10.
- Rainsford, S, Hall, S, Kasim, R et al. 2021, ''Traversing difficult terrain'. Advance care planning in residential aged care through multidisciplinary case conferences: A qualitative interview study exploring the experiences of families, staff and health professionals', Palliative Medicine, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 1148 -1157.
- Moore, M, Burgis-Kasthala, S, Barnard, J et al. 2018, 'Rural clinical school students do come back: But it may take time', Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 47, no. 11, pp. 812-814.
- Douglas, K, O'Brien, K, Hall Dykgraaf, S et al. 2021, 'Quick COVID Clinician Survey Summary (Australia), series 9-13', Annals of Family Medicine, vol. COVID-19 Collection.
- Douglas, K, O'Brien, K, Hall Dykgraaf, S et al. 2021, 'Quick COVID Clinician Survey Summary (Australia), series 5-8', Annals of Family Medicine, vol. COVID-19 Collection.
- Desborough, J, Hall, S, Phillips, C, Wright, M, Maddox, R, David S, Kidd M. 2021, 'Lessons for the global primary care response to COVID-19: a rapid review of evidence from past epidemics', Family Practice, pp. 1-15.
- Desborough, J, Hall Dykgraaf, S, Rankin, D et al. 2020, 'The importance of consistent advice during a pandemic: A analysis of Australian advice regarding personal protective equipment in healthcare settings during COVID-19', Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 49, no. 6, pp. 369-372.
- Hall Dykgraaf, S, Desborough, J, Kelaher, C et al. 2020, 'COVID-19 highlights risks of healthcare and social care workers attending work while ill', Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 49, pp. 1-2.
- Desborough, J, Hall Dykgraaf, S, de Toca , L et al. 2020, 'Australia's national COVID-19 primary care response', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 213, no. 3, pp. 104-106.e1.
- Barton, C, Michael Tam, C, Abbott, P et al 2017, 'Can research that is not intended or unlikely to be published be considered ethical?', Australian Family Physician, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 442-444.
- Phillips, C, Hall, S, Elmitt, N et al 2017, 'People-centred integration in a refugee primary care service: a complex adaptive systems perspective', Journal of Integrated Care, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 26-38.
- Phillips, C, Hall Dykgraaf, S & Irving, M 2016, 'Impact of interprofessional education about psychological and medical comorbidities on practitioners' knowledge and collaborative practice: mixed method evaluation of a national program', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 16, no. 465, pp. 1-9.
- Craig, P, Phillips, C & Hall Dykgraaf, S 2016, 'Building social capital with interprofessional student teams in rural settings: a service-learning model', Australian Journal of Rural Health, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 271-277.
- Craig, P, Hall Dykgraaf, S & Phillips, C 2016, 'Using the Freeth/Kirkpatrick model to evaluate interprofessional learning outcomes in a rural setting', Focus on Health Professional Education, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 84-99.
- Phillips, C, Dwan, K, Hepworth, J et al. 2014, 'Using qualitative mixed methods to study small health care organizations while maximising trustworthiness and authenticity', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 14, no. 559, pp. 1-13.
- Phillips, C & Hall Dykgraaf, S 2013, 'Nurses and the wise organisation: techne and phronesis in Australian general practice', Nursing Inquiry, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 121-132.
- Pearce , C, De Lusignan, S, Phillips, C et al. 2013, 'The Computerized Medical Record as a Tool for Clinical Governance in Australian Primary Care', Interactive Journal of Medical Research (i-JMR), vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 21-33.
- Craig P, Phillips C, Hall S, Irving M, 2013. 'Situated learning for interprofessional practice: Evaluating the Health ‘Hubs and Spokes’ rural placement program in South East NSW'. Report for the Health Hubs & Spoke Program. Canberra: Australian National University.
- Pearce, C, Hall Dykgraaf, S, Phillips, C et al. 2012, 'A spatial analysis of the expanding roles of nurses in general practice', BMC Nursing, vol. 11, no. 13.
- Phillips C, Hall S, Irving M, 2012. 'Evaluation of the Mind The Gap Training & Education Package (Phase II)'. Report for The Australian General Practice Network. Canberra: Australian National University.
- Pearce , C, Phillips, C, Hall Dykgraaf, S et al. 2011, 'Following the funding trail: Financing, nurses and teamwork in Australian General Practice', BMC Health Services Research, vol. 11, no. 38, p. 9.
- Pearce , C, Shearer, M, Phillips, C et al. 2011, 'Views of GPs and practice nurses on support needed to respond to pandemic influenza: a qualitative study', Australian Health Review, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 111-115.
- Haesler E, Phillips C, Hall S, et al 2011. 'An international review of breast screening standards'. Report for the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing. Canberra: Australian National University 2011.
- Hall, S, Phillips, C, Gray, P et al 2011, 'Where there is no gold standard: Mixed method research in a cluster randomised trial of a tool for safe prioritising of patients by medical receptionists', International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches, vol. 5, pp. 25-39.
- Hall SJ, Phillips CB, Dubois L, et al 2010. 'Preventing Falls, promoting Health, Engaging Community: Evaluation report of the Greater Southern Area Health Service Physical Activity Leaders Network Tai Chi Program'. Canberra: Australian National University.
- Phillips CB, Hall SJ, Pearce CM, et al 2010. 'Improving quality through clinical governance in primary health care'. Canberra: Australian Primary Health Care Institute.
- Pearce , C, Hall Dykgraaf, S & Phillips, C 2010, 'When policy meets the personal: general practice nurses in Australia', Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, vol. 15, no. Suppl 2, pp. 26-34.
- Phillips, C, Pearce , C, Hall Dykgraaf, S et al. 2010, 'Can clinical governance deliver quality improvement in Australian general practice and primary care? A systematic review of the evidence', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 193, no. 10, pp. 602-607.
- Pearce, C, Phillips, C, Hall, S et al 2009, 'Contributions from the lifeworld: quality, caring and the general practice nurse', Quality in Primary Care, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 5-13.
- Glasgow, N, Marley, J, Kristjanson, L et al. 2008, 'Bringing evidence to bear on policy processes: the challenge of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 188, no. 8, pp. s46-s49.
- Phillips, C, Patel, M, Glasgow, N et al. 2007, 'Australian general practice and pandemic influenza: models of clinical practice in an established pandemic', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 186, no. 7, pp. 355-358.
- Hall Dykgraaf, S 2007, 'Divisions of general practice and practice nurse development in Australia', Contemporary Nurse, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 37-47.
- Phillips, C, Dwan, K, Pearce , C et al. 2007, 'Time to talk, time to see: Changing microeconomies of professional practice among nurses and doctors in Australian general practice', Contemporary Nurse, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 137-144.
- Phillips, C, Pearce, C, Hall, S et al 2007, 'Enhancing care, improving quality: the six roles of the general practice nurse', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 191, no. 2, pp. 92-97.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Systematic review update - COVID-19 and residential aged care (Primary Investigator)
- Environment and Climate Change in the Health of Regional Australia (ECCHRA) (Secondary Investigator)
- Addressing unmet mental health service needs in rural/regional New South Wales: Assessing the impact of a university-based e-therapy training clinic (Secondary Investigator)
- A model to strengthen capacity and coordination of palliative and end-of-life care in Cooma residential aged care. (Secondary Investigator)
- Evaluation of a General Practice Capability Building and Quality Improvement Initiative (Secondary Investigator)
- Integrated care:oganisational process, patient-centred outcome or both? Learning from first generation integrated primary health care centres (Secondary Investigator)
- Who uses guidelines when in general practice? A naturalistic decision analysis (Secondary Investigator)
- Review of International Breast Screening Standards (Secondary Investigator)
- Evaluation of Mind the Gap training and education package (Secondary Investigator)
- Interprofessional Working within General Practice (Secondary Investigator)
- Provision of evaluation services (Secondary Investigator)
- Evaluation of a triaging protocol for non-clinical staff in general practice - prioritisation of patients: a guide to urgency for non-clinical staff (POPGUNS) (Secondary Investigator)