Aim:
To enhance confidence and competence in applying a structured approach to families presenting with developmental and behavioural challenges in 0-12 year old children. To understand that utilising core primary care skills in this context will assist in achieve the best outcomes for patients through early and personalised intervention.

Content- 60 minute session:
1. 10 minutes. Presenting a successful model deployed for the last 18 months in a Tasmanian small group general practice for providing primary care clinician supported and family led interventions to achieve healthy outcomes for struggling families
2. 25 minutes. Discussion of two relevant cases:
- Challenging sleep in a three year old child
- Fussy eating behaviour in a six year old child
3. 25 minutes. Small group discussion of further cases with a focus on structuring a series of primary care consultations and developing an ‘action plan’ for the family. Presenter will facilitate.

Goals:
1. Support primary care physicians in taking ownership of more complex paediatric presentations through recognition that a combination of core primary care skills and simple frameworks can deliver excellent outcomes.
2. Highlight the positive and profound impacts on the wellbeing of a family that can be achieved through primary care early intervention.

South Asia, constituting India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan represents the most populous region in the world. Family medicine in this region is underdeveloped and at a nascent stage. Fostering local knowledge generation in family medicine and primary care through research that can translate into patient care, practice models, education, and advocacy for health strengthening and reform is the need of the hour.

Since Nov 2021, as a part of the current leadership committee of WONCA South Asia, several concrete steps have been taken to build the foundation for primary care research in South Asia. The aim was to nurture a cadre of researchers in family medicine and primary care who can promote evidence based practices, in order to improve patient outcomes, efficiency, transparency and sustainability of health care delivery in the South Asian context. Additionally, we wanted to create a platform for family medicine/primary care clinicians, health services researchers, and other experts to address the common, but complex, issues surrounding contemporary health care in South Asia.

First South Asia wide study was hence conducted to examine the level of interest, motivators, and barriers to conducting research by practicing family physicians. Last but not the least this multi-country study demonstrates an example of synchronized team work through effective remote communications and demonstration of transparency by contributing individuals.

During this session, we will use data, insights, and key themes from this survey to facilitate discussion regarding the path forward especially pertaining to priority areas for future action, research, policy, and advocacy to strengthen Family Medicine research in South Asia.

1. Highlight the key motivators and barriers in conducting research faced by practicing family physicians across South Asia.
2. Identify priority areas to strengthen Family Medicine research and its translation in South Asia.
3. Develop strategies and alliances to promote, support, and elevate Family Medicine research in the region.