Overview
Background
Associate Professor Matthew McGrail is the Head of Regional Training Hubs research at UQ’s Rural Clinical School. Joining UQ in Nov 2017, he is based at the Rockhampton Clinical Unit, and he is chair of the research and evaluation working group of UQ’s Regional Medical Pathway as well as chair of UQ RCS’s medical graduate cohort longitudinal tracking study (UQ MediCoS).
Matthew has worked in the university sector for over 20 years, working mostly as a researcher in rural health. He was originally trained as a statistician, expanding his skills across GIS and software development, completing his PhD in 2008. He has been lead biostatistician on 3 large NHMRC-funded RCTs that are published in the world-leading general medical journal, the Lancet. Matthew’s research is mostly underpinned by the overall objective of improved access to health care for rural populations, mainly focused in the medical sector. He has a unique blend of ‘generalist’ research skills and experience across the disciplines of statistics, geography, rural health, econometrics, public health and clinical research.
Matthew has a particular interest in the ongoing concerns with medical workforce distribution, connecting that through his research and evaluation to health policies, training pathways and healthcare systems. To date he has been a chief investigator on two separate Centres of Research Excellence, one on medical workforce dynamics and the other on rural and remote primary health care access. He has also co-researched with various GP training organisations, specialty colleges, rural workforce agencies, as well as state and commonwealth health departments
Availability
- Associate Professor Matthew McGrail is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science, University of Melbourne
- Graduate Diploma in Information Technology (Software Development), Swinburne University of Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy, Monash University
Research interests
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Rural medical workforce training
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Workforce distribution
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Access to health care
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Rural health workforce policy
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Health services research
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GIS methodologies in health
Research impacts
Matthew has over 130 peer reviewed journal publications. He is globally recognised for his research of medical workforce training and distributional outcomes, which directly impacts healthcare access for rural populations. He was a lead investigator on the completed Centre of Research Excellence in Rural and Remote Primary Health Care, under which he developed improved measures of healthcare access, notably producing the national Index of Access.
He was also a chief investigator of the NHMRC-funded Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) longitudinal study of doctors (data collected 2008-18), under which he led the rural supply and distribution research theme. These data are still used as key source of national evidence of the medical workforce. In 2018, the MABEL project was awarded the Best Impact Prize from the Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand, primarily due to the body of work from the rural theme. A key outcome of MABEL was the Modified Monash Model (MMM) classification, which he co-developed with Emeritus Prof John Humphreys. From 2015, the MMM has been adopted to underpin most Commonwealth Department of Health policies in rural health.
Works
Search Professor Matthew McGrail’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Outcomes of rural generalist internship training in Victoria, Australia
O'Sullivan, Belinda G., Boyer, Shane, Stratton, Angela, McGrail, Matthew R., Phillips, Jacque and Faoro, Julie (2023). Outcomes of rural generalist internship training in Victoria, Australia. Rural and remote health, 23 (4) 7889, 1-15. doi: 10.22605/RRH7889
2023
Journal Article
Nature and extent of disruptions to staff clinical supervision practices in health care settings due to COVID‐19: A survey study
Martin, Priya, Argus, Geoff, Fox, Jordan, Gurney, Tiana, McGrail, Matthew, Kumar, Saravana and Kondalsamy‐Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2023). Nature and extent of disruptions to staff clinical supervision practices in health care settings due to COVID‐19: A survey study. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 31 (5), 1008-1016. doi: 10.1111/ajr.13036
2023
Journal Article
Experiences of rural and metropolitan background applicants in preparing for and completing a regionally focused multiple mini-interview for admission into a regional medical program
Fox, Jordan L., Batacan, Romeo, Saluja, Sonia, Pullen, Candice and McGrail, Matthew (2023). Experiences of rural and metropolitan background applicants in preparing for and completing a regionally focused multiple mini-interview for admission into a regional medical program. Education for Health, 36 (3), 116-122. doi: 10.4103/efh.efh_190_23
2023
Journal Article
The pathway to more rural doctors: the role of universities
McGrail, Matthew R., Doyle, Zelda, Fuller, Lara, Gupta, Tarun Sen, Shires, Lizzi and Walters, Lucie (2023). The pathway to more rural doctors: the role of universities. Medical Journal of Australia, 219 (S3), S8-S13. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52021
2023
Journal Article
Rural medical workforce pathways: exploring the importance of postgraduation rural training time
McGrail, Matthew R., Gurney, Tiana, Fox, Jordan, Martin, Priya, Eley, Diann, Nasir, Bushra and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2023). Rural medical workforce pathways: exploring the importance of postgraduation rural training time. Human Resources for Health, 21 (1) 31, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12960-023-00819-3
2023
Journal Article
Comparison of performance outcomes after general practice training in remote and rural or regional locations in Australia
Anderson, Emily, McGrail, Matthew R, Hollins, Aaron, Young, Louise, McArthur, Lawrie, O'Sullivan, Belinda and Gurney, Tiana (2023). Comparison of performance outcomes after general practice training in remote and rural or regional locations in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (9), 408-409. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51930
2023
Journal Article
A comparative evaluation of quality and depth of learning by trainee doctors in regional, rural, and remote locations
Young, Louise, Anderson, Emily, Gurney, Tiana, McArthur, Lawrie, McGrail, Matthew, O’Sullivan, Belinda and Hollins, Aaron (2023). A comparative evaluation of quality and depth of learning by trainee doctors in regional, rural, and remote locations. BMC Medical Education, 23 (1) 215, 1-7. doi: 10.1186/s12909-023-04175-7
2023
Journal Article
Short-term medical student placements completed consecutively at a rural general practice positively impact chronic disease management
Fox, Jordan L., Doolan, Thomas D., Gurney, Tiana M. and McGrail, Matthew R. (2023). Short-term medical student placements completed consecutively at a rural general practice positively impact chronic disease management. Rural and Remote Health, 23 (2) 7611, 7611. doi: 10.22605/RRH7611
2023
Journal Article
Understanding the non‐professional needs of early career doctors: An interview‐based study
Gurney, Tiana, O'Sullivan, Belinda, McGrail, Matthew and Martin, Priya (2023). Understanding the non‐professional needs of early career doctors: An interview‐based study. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 38 (2), 330-346. doi: 10.1002/hpm.3587
2023
Journal Article
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student supervision and education in health care settings: A state-wide survey of health care workers
Martin, Priya, Hulme, Adam, Fallon, Tony, Kumar, Saravana, McGrail, Matthew, Argus, Geoff, Gurney, Tiana and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2023). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student supervision and education in health care settings: A state-wide survey of health care workers. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 31 (3), 484-492. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12969
2023
Journal Article
Evaluation of rural general practice experiences for pre-vocational medical graduates
McGrail, Matthew R., Chhabra, Jasleen and Hays, Richard (2023). Evaluation of rural general practice experiences for pre-vocational medical graduates. Rural and remote health, 23 (1) 7409, 1-8. doi: 10.22605/RRH7409
2023
Book Chapter
Populations at special health risk: rural populations
McGrail, Matthew, Nasir, Bushra and Fox, Jordan (2023). Populations at special health risk: rural populations. Reference module in biomedical sciences. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-99967-0.00091-0
2023
Journal Article
The value of extended short-term medical training placements in smaller rural and remote locations on future work location: a cohort study
McGrail, Matthew R, Nasir, Bushra F, Chater, Alan Bruce, Sangelaji, Bahram and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2023). The value of extended short-term medical training placements in smaller rural and remote locations on future work location: a cohort study. BMJ Open, 13 (1) e068704, 1-8. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068704
2022
Journal Article
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student experiences during rural placements in Australia: findings from a national multi-centre survey
Martin, Priya, McGrail, Matthew, Fox, Jordan, Ostini, Remo, Doyle, Zelda, Playford, Denese, Beattie, Jessica, Isaac, Vivian, Fuller, Lara, Allen, Penny and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student experiences during rural placements in Australia: findings from a national multi-centre survey. BMC Medical Education, 22 (1) 852, 1-9. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03927-1
2022
Conference Publication
Organisational support measures to enhance healthcare workers’ mental health and wellbeing: findings from a rapid review
Martin, P., Ford, M., Lizarondo, L., McGrail, M. and Sangelaji, B. (2022). Organisational support measures to enhance healthcare workers’ mental health and wellbeing: findings from a rapid review. Health Services Research Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 30 Nov 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
76. “Gadgets and gizmos aplenty!” Dressing and securing peripherally inserted central catheters to prevent infection and failure
Rickard, Claire, Larsen, Emily, Marsh, Nicole, McGrail, Matthew, Ullman, Amanda, Kleidon, Tricia, Chan, Ray, Byrnes, Joshua, Mollee, Peter, Paterson, David, Chopra, Vineet, Stone, Leanne, Tapsall, Doreen, Keogh, Samantha, Gavin, Nicole, McCarthy, Sandie, Alexandrou, Evan, Choudhury, M.A., Corley, Amanda, Schults, Jessica, Ray-Barruel, Gillian and Geoffrey Playford, E. (2022). 76. “Gadgets and gizmos aplenty!” Dressing and securing peripherally inserted central catheters to prevent infection and failure. 2022 ACIPC International Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 13 - 16 November 2022. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2022.09.034
2022
Journal Article
Work-related, socio-cultural, and personal factors associated with locus of control among Australian general practitioners
Parajuli, Daya Ram, Ullah, Shahid, McGrail, Matthew, McLachlan, Craig S. and Isaac, Vivian (2022). Work-related, socio-cultural, and personal factors associated with locus of control among Australian general practitioners. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 155, 589-595. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.09.048
2022
Journal Article
Exploring life satisfaction difference between domestic and international medical graduates: evidence from a national longitudinal study
Darboe, Amadou, Hawthorne, Lesleyanne, Scott, Anthony and McGrail, Matthew (2022). Exploring life satisfaction difference between domestic and international medical graduates: evidence from a national longitudinal study. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 16 (4), 555-565. doi: 10.1080/20479700.2022.2130641
2022
Journal Article
Influence of rural clinical school experience and rural origin on practising in rural communities five and eight years after graduation
Seal, Alexa N., Playford, Denese, McGrail, Matthew R., Fuller, Lara, Allen, Penny L., Burrows, Julie M., Wright, Julian R., Bain-Donohue, Suzanne, Garne, David, Major, Laura G. and Luscombe, Georgina M. (2022). Influence of rural clinical school experience and rural origin on practising in rural communities five and eight years after graduation. Medical Journal of Australia, 216 (11), 572-577. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51476
2022
Journal Article
Regionalisation and general practitioner and nurse workforce development in regional northern Australia: insights from 30 years of census migration data
Carson, Dean B., McGrail, Matthew and Sahay, Ashlyn (2022). Regionalisation and general practitioner and nurse workforce development in regional northern Australia: insights from 30 years of census migration data. Journal of Rural Studies, 91, 98-107. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.02.005
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Matthew McGrail is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The Effectiveness of the Implementation of the Vision 2030 Healthcare Strategy in Improving Health Services in Rural Saudi Arabia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bruce Chater, Dr Bushra Nasir
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Doctor Philosophy
What factors influence the use and satisfaction with hospital services of residents in Queensland's regions?
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Growing the Rural Medical Workforce Pipeline
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Di Eley
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Master Philosophy
Systemic analysis of the determinants that influence the oncologist-patient relationship; exploring the interplay between organisational, cultural and personal factors. Translating key findings into training and professional development interventions with mutual focus on patient and doctor outcomes.
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The association of major depressive disorders with chronic disease among Indigenous Australians
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan, Dr Bushra Nasir
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Master Philosophy
Interprofessional collaboration in Radiography: Do we need to re-invent the wheel?
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Priya Martin
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Doctor Philosophy
Determinants of referral patterns of patients with CKD from GP practice to Specialist Nephrology clinics based on combined eGFR and albuminuria measurements and their progress over time
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan
Media
Enquiries
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