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
2005
Journal Article
The planning of rural health research: rurality and rural population issues
McGrail, Matthew, Jones, Rebecca, Robinson, Anske, Rickard, Claire M., Burley, Mollie and Drysdale, Marlene (2005). The planning of rural health research: rurality and rural population issues. Rural and Remote Health, 5 (4).
2004
Journal Article
Preventing hypothermia during continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration: A randomized controlled trial
Rickard, CM, Couchman, BA, Hughes, M and McGrail, MR (2004). Preventing hypothermia during continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 47 (4), 393-400. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03117.x
2004
Journal Article
Disclosure of CAM use to medical practitioners: A review of qualitative and quantitative studies
Robinson, A and McGrail, MR (2004). Disclosure of CAM use to medical practitioners: A review of qualitative and quantitative studies. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 12 (2-3), 90-98. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2004.09.006
2004
Journal Article
Does the presence of an emergency physician improve access based quality indicators in a rural emergency department?
O'Connor A.E., Lockney A.L., Sloan P.M. and McGrail M.R. (2004). Does the presence of an emergency physician improve access based quality indicators in a rural emergency department?. EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia, 16 (1), 55-58.
2003
Journal Article
Medical students' and GP registrars' accommodation needs in the rural community: insight from a Victorian study
Han, Gil-Soo, Wearne, Ben, O'Meara, Peter, McGrail, Matthew and Chesters, Janice (2003). Medical students' and GP registrars' accommodation needs in the rural community: insight from a Victorian study. Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association, 26 (1), 92-105. doi: 10.1071/AH030092
2002
Other Outputs
Victorian Rural Nurse Project - part 2; advanced nursing practice: bush nursing perspective
Burley, Mollie, Duffy, Elaine, McGrail, Matthew and Siegloff, Lesley (2002). Victorian Rural Nurse Project - part 2; advanced nursing practice: bush nursing perspective. Traralgon, Vic, Australia: Monash University School of Rural Health.
2001
Other Outputs
Survey of GP registrar and medical student accommodation needs in RRMAs 4-7, Victoria
Han, Gil-Soo, Wearne, Ben, O'Meara, Peter, McGrail, Matthew and Chesters, Janice (2001). Survey of GP registrar and medical student accommodation needs in RRMAs 4-7, Victoria. Traralgon, Vic, Australia: Monash University.
2000
Other Outputs
VRNP: Victorian rural nurse project: workforce database: final report
Duffy, Elaine, Seigloff, Lesley, Seigloff, Lorelai and McGrail, Matthew (2000). VRNP: Victorian rural nurse project: workforce database: final report. Traralgon, Vic, Australia: Monash University.
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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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
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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
Media
Enquiries
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