Dr Oliver Frank

University Senior Research Fellow

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

I have been in clinical general practice since 1978, and was a partner in a practice from 1988 until 2009. Exchanges of practice with English GPs in 1993-1994 in Nottingham and in 2000-2001 in Bristol allowed me to compare the British NHS with the Australian health system as a practitioner working within those systems.

My PhD was awarded in 2006 for a thesis based on a randomised controlled trial of automated opportunistic reminders to general practitioners about preventive activities. I designed and conducted the trial and programmed a general practice computer system to generate the automated reminders.

In 2006 I started an academic career part time, with the balance of my time continuing to be spent in clinical practice. My professional and academic interests are in prevention, clinical informatics, quality of care and health services. I lead a research program that is developing and evaluating the benefits of automatically presenting targeted individualised education, information and advice about preventive and other care to people who are attending their general practitioner or practice nurse.

I have served and continue to serve on a range of professional and government committees and boards related to my interests.

My Research
Career
Publications
Grants and Funding
Professional Activities
Contact

I lead a research program that is exploring the benefits of providing education, information and advice to people when they arrive for consultations in their general medical practice (family practice).

We have developed technology that automatically generates targeted personalised education, information and advice based on the patient’s current status, and that is presented to the patient at a moment when the patient can act immediately with a minimum of additional time, effort or cost. Our software runs when the patient arrives for a consultation and compares algorithms about recommended preventive and other care with data in the patient’s electronic clinical record to generate relevant education, information and advice that is given to the patient to read while waiting to see the GP or practice nurse.

This strategy can be used to increase the performance of preventive care and care of diagnosed conditions. We are exploring its use to help to recruit participants for research studies that are being conducted in or via general practice.

I am also involved in research projects with a range of colleagues that are aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of care provided in general practice.

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Appointments

Date Position Institution name
2006 University Senior Research Fellow University of Adelaide
1978 General practitioner Self
Education

Date Institution name Country Title
1998 - 2006 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
1971 - 1976 University of Adelaide Australia MBBS

Date	Position	Institution name
2006	University Senior Research Fellow	University of Adelaide
1978	General practitioner	Self

Date	Institution name	Country	Title
1998 - 2006	University of Adelaide	Australia	PhD
1971 - 1976	University of Adelaide	Australia	MBBS

Certifications

Date	Title	Institution name	Country
2011	Fellow	Australasian College of Health Informatics	Australia
1984	Fellow	Royal Australian College of General Practitioners	Australia
1980	Full Member	Australian Society of Hypnosis	Australia
1979	Family Planning Certificate	Family Planning Association of South Australia	Australia

Research Interests

General Clinical Medicine Health Informatics Health Information Systems Health Policy & Services Preventive Medicine

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Journals

Year	Citation
2019	Frank, O. (2019). No more P values. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE, 48(4), 168.
2019	Westaway, K., Blacker, N., Shute, R., Allin, R., Elgebaly, Z., Frank, O., . . . Roughead, E. (2019). Combination psychotropic medicine use in older adults and risk of hip fracture. Australian Prescriber, 42(3), 93-96. DOI
2018	Westaway, K., Frank, O., Shute, R., Moffat, A., LeBlanc, V., Rowett, D., . . . Roughead, E. (2018). Gathering tips from carers to support people with dementia: an adaptation of the TOP 5 program for community use. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 16(2), 128-135. DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2018	Frank, O., & Rowett, D. (2018). Facilitating respectful interprofessional communication: how do we get there?. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 48(4), 303-305. DOI
2018	Kumar, S., Woodward-Kron, R., Frank, O., Knieriemen, A., & Lau, P. (2018). Patient-directed reminders to improve preventive care in general practice for patients with type 2 diabetes A proof of concept. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE, 47(6), 383-388. DOI
2017	Westaway, K., Frank, O., Husband, A., McClure, A., Shute, R., & Curtis, J. (2017). Minimising fracture risk in older people taking long-term oral corticosteroids. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 47(2), 158-162. DOI
2017	Frank, O. (2017). Discharge summary quality assessment tool. Australian Family Physician, 46(4), 184.
2017	Frank, O., Stocks, N., & Knieriemen, A. (2017). Providing “just-in-time” preventive care advice. Annals of Family Medicine, 15(3), 276. DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2017	Liaw, S., Kearns, R., Taggart, J., Frank, O., Lane, R., Tam, M., . . . Harris, M. (2017). The informatics capability maturity of integrated primary care centres in Australia. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 105, 89-97. DOI Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC4
2016	Frank, O. (2016). My Health Record: repository or communication tool?. Public health research & practice, 26(2). DOI
2015	Young, J., Win, A., Rosty, C., Flight, I., Roder, D., Young, G., . . . Price, T. (2015). Rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer in Australia over two decades: Report and review. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 30(1), 6-13. DOI Scopus42 WoS43 Europe PMC22
2015	Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2015). A bowel cancer screening plan at last. Medical Journal of Australia, 202(4), iii-iv. DOI
2015	Mnatzaganian, G., Karnon, J., Moss, J., Elshaug, A., Metz, M., Frank, O., & Hiller, J. (2015). Informing disinvestment with limited evidence: cobalamin deficiency in the fatigued. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 31(3), 188-196. DOI
2015	Westaway, K., Frank, O., Husband, A., McClure, A., Shute, R., Edwards, S., . . . Rowett, D. (2015). Medicines can affect thermoregulation and accentuate the risk of dehydration and heat-related illness during hot weather. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 40(4), 363-367. DOI Scopus11 WoS11 Europe PMC9
2014	Westaway, K., Alderman, C., Frank, O., Husband, A., Rowett, D., & Le Blanc, T. (2014). Optimising therapy for patients with neuropathic pain. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 44(1), 44-47. DOI Scopus1
2014	Frank, O., Aylward, P., & Stocks, N. (2014). Development of pre-consultation prevention summary and reminder sheets for patients: Preliminary study of acceptability and sustainability. Australian Family Physician, 43(5), 310-314. Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC1
2014	Westaway, K., Frank, O., Husband, A., Rowet, D., Rossi, S., Blanc, T., & Shute, R. (2014). Safe use of statins in elderly people. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 44(3), 138-142. DOI Scopus2
2013	Stocks, N., & Frank, O. (2013). Study design of ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE): A randomized, controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 36(2), 555-564. DOI WoS67 Europe PMC47
2013	Newman, L., & Frank, O. (2013). The rhetoric and reality of e-health: A critical assessment of the benefits of e-health in primary health care. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 19(4), 265-269. DOI Scopus8 WoS6 Europe PMC2
2013	Johnson, D., Frank, O., Pond, D., & Stocks, N. (2013). Older people with mild cognitive impairment: their views about assessing driving safety. Australian Family Physician, 42(5), 317-320. Scopus12 WoS10 Europe PMC8
2013	Bell, J., Blacker, N., LeBlanc, V., Alderman, C., Phillips, A., Rowett, D., . . . Husband, A. (2013). Prescribing for older people with chronic renal impairment. Australian Family Physician, 42(1), 24-28. Scopus17 WoS16 Europe PMC8
2013	Ried, K., Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2013). Aged garlic extract reduces blood pressure in hypertensives: a dose-response trial. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67(1), 64-70. DOI Scopus74 WoS67 Europe PMC46
2012	Frank, O. (2012). Hospitals are not an appropriate setting in which to provide catch-up immunisations. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 48(12), 1106-1107. DOI WoS1
2012	Ried, K., Sullivan, T., Fakler, P., Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2012). Effect of cocoa on blood pressure. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012(8), 1-84. DOI Scopus124 WoS98 Europe PMC38
2012	Stocks, N., Allan, J., Frank, O., Williams, S., & Ryan, P. (2012). Improving attendance for cardiovascular risk assessment in Australian general practice: an RCT of a monetary incentive for patients. BMC Family Practice, 13(1), 1-6. DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2012	Bell, J., Blacker, N., Edwards, S., Frank, O., Alderman, C., Karan, L., . . . Rowett, D. (2012). Osteoporosis pharmacological prevention and management in older people. Australian Family Physician, 41(0003), 110-+. Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC3
2012	Bell, J., Mezrani, C., Blacker, N., Tammy, L., Frank, O., Alderman, C., . . . Shute, R. (2012). Anticholinergic and sedative medicines Prescribing considerations for people with dementia. Australian Family Physician, 41(1-2), 45-49. Scopus34 WoS33 Europe PMC21
2011	Frank, O. (2011). A fistful of prescriptions: is there a better way?. Australian Family Physician, 40(9), 659. Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2011	Frank, O., Stocks, N., & Aylward, P. (2011). Patient acceptance and perceived utility of pre-consultation prevention summaries and reminders in general practice: pilot study. BMC Family Practice, 12(1), 40-1-40-8. DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC3
2011	Stocks, N., Frank, O., Linn, A., Anderson, K., & Meertens, S. (2011). Vertical integration of teaching in Australian general practice - a survey of regional training providers. Medical Journal of Australia, 194(Suppl. 11), S75-S78. Scopus11 WoS13 Europe PMC4
2011	Ried, K., Sullivan, T., Fakler, P., Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2011). Effect of chocolate on blood pressure. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, 1-7. DOI
2011	Frank, O. (2011). Care continuity starts with GPs. Australian Doctor, (22-APRIL), 25.
2010	Ried, K., Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2010). Chocolate and blood pressure. Chocolate dose may be too much.. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 341. Scopus3
2010	Ried, K., Sullivan, T., Fakler, P., Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2010). Does chocolate reduce blood pressure? A meta-analysis. BMC Medicine, 8(39), 1-11. DOI Scopus138 WoS120 Europe PMC63
2010	Reid, K., Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2010). Chocolate and blood pressure: Chocolate dose may be too much. British Medical Journal, 341(7768), 318. DOI Scopus2 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2010	Ried, K., Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2010). Aged garlic extract lowers blood pressure in patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension: A randomised controlled trial. Maturitas, 67(2), 144-150. DOI Scopus89 WoS81 Europe PMC52
2009	Frank, O. (2009). General and relative time in urban general practice. Medical Journal of Australia, 191(2), 125.
2009	Ried, K., Frank, O., & Stocks, N. (2009). Dark chocolate or tomato extract for prehypertension: a randomised controlled trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 9(1), 1-12. DOI Scopus74 WoS60 Europe PMC30
2008	Ried, K., Frank, O., Stocks, N., Fakler, P., & Sullivan, T. (2008). Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 8(13), 1-12. DOI Scopus143 WoS105 Europe PMC58
2008	Frank, O. (2008). Wishful thinking. Australian Doctor, (29/AUG.), 23.
2008	Frank, O. (2008). Big step to improving patient care. Australian Doctor, (12/SEPT.), 2.
2007	Frank, O. (2007). Nurse questions [3]. Australian Doctor, (6/JULY), 25.
2007	Frank, O. (2007). In a paper bind [5]. Australian Doctor, (23/MAR.), 21.
2007	Frank, O. (2007). GP-free TV [2]. Australian Doctor, (29/JUNE), 23.
2007	Frank, O. R. (2007). Untitled - To the editor. MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 187(8), 473-474.
2006	Frank, O. (2006). Item 291. Australian Family Physician, 35(9), 663.
2006	Frank, O. (2006). Fatness. Australian Family Physician, 35(8), 567-568.
2006	Frank, O., & Agzarian, J. (2006). Making CO2 cryotherapy more economical. Australian Family Physician, 35(11), 839.
2005	Frank, O., Litt, J., & Beilby, J. (2005). Preventive activities during consultations in general practice : influences on performance. Australian Family Physician, 34(6), 508-512. Scopus6 Europe PMC5
2004	Frank, O., Litt, J., & Beilby, J. (2004). Opportunistic electronic reminders : improving performance of preventive care in general practice. Australian Family Physician, 33(1/2), 87-90.
2004	Frank, O., Litt, J., & Beilby, J. (2004). Opportunistic electronic reminders: Improving performance of preventive care in general practice. Australian Family Physician, 33(1-2), 87-90. Scopus40 Europe PMC23
1999	Frank, O., & May, F. (1999). Outcomes of an educational-outreach service for community medical practitioners: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (multiple letters) [4]. Medical Journal of Australia, 171(7), 388-389. DOI
1997	Frank, O. (1997). Registers, recalls and reminders. Australian Family Physician, 26(1), 42-47. Europe PMC1
1997	Frank, O. (1997). Practice compared--payment systems. Aust Fam Physician, 26, 1229.
1996	Frank, O., & Kidd, M. (1996). A guide to computer-generated prescriptions. Australian Family Physician, 25(7), 1162-1163. Scopus1
1996	Frank, O. (1996). Preventing falls in the elderly at home: a community-based program. The Medical Journal of Australia, 165(4), 238. DOI
1992	Frank, O. (1992). Capitation: a service by another name. Australian Family Physician, 21(3), 270-272.
1991	Frank, O. (1991). Medical reference filing systems. Australian Family Physician, 20(1), 57-59. Scopus1
1989	Bungey, J., Pols, R., Mortimer, K., Frank, O., & Skinner, H. (1989). Screening alcohol & drug use in a general practice unit: a comparison of computerised and traditional methods. Community Health Studies, 13(4), 471-483. DOI Scopus11 WoS6 Europe PMC1
1988	Frank, O., & Coulthard, K. (1988). Paracetamol for fever in children. Australian Family Physician, 17(9), 771.
1986	Frank, O. (1986). Accidents in childhood.. The Medical journal of Australia, 144(12), 671.
1985	FRANK, O. (1985). COMPUTERS FOR MEDICAL OFFICES - LEUDTKE,P, LEUDTKE,R. COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDIES, 9(3), 303.

NHMRC Endorsed Guidelines

Year	Citation
2008	Publication status: Published Title: Clinical guidelines for best practice management of acute and chronic whiplash-associated disorders Authors: Cox M, Frank O, Osti O, Merlin T, Atkinson R, Jezukaitis P Pagination: 0 pages Publication date: 2008 Language: en Notes: Migrated record 20140814 Verification-status: Verified Record created at source: 14 August 2014

Theses

Year Citation
2006 Frank, O. R. (2006). Opportunistic reminders and other influences on the performance of preventive activities in consultations in general practice.

Year	Citation
2006	Frank, O. R. (2006). Opportunistic reminders and other influences on the performance of preventive activities in consultations in general practice.

2010 onwards

Date	Project/No.	Investigators	Funding Body	Amount
2015	Customising pathways to self-management support for people with osteoarthritis.	Elizabeth Hoon, Oliver Frank,Tiffany Gill, Catherine Hill, Caroline Laurence.	2016 Arthritis Australia Project Grant: the Arthritis Australia and State/Territory Affiliate Translational Grant funded by Arthritis South Australia	$40,000
2015	EMPOWER: Health Systems, Adversity and Child Well Being. NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence.	John Lynch (Chief Investigator), Oliver Frank (Associate Investigator).	NHMRC	$4.972 M
2014	E-Health Initiatives and Health Care Integration in GP Super Clinics.	Siaw-Teng Liaw, Oliver Frank, Sarah Dennis, Jane Taggart, Grant Russell, Mark Harris.	Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute grant: Integrated Primary Health Care Centres research stream.	$149 997
2014	Turning Recipients into Participants; A pilot study of the feasibility, acceptability and impact of introducing an online software system into a general practice to increase patient engagement with chronic disease and risk factor management.	Wade VA, Frank OR, Stocks NP.	2014 HCF Research Foundation/ RACGP Research Grant	$60 000
2014	Improving the bone health of cancer survivors – a pilot study of patient activation and resource provision to improve bone health management after breast and prostate cancer.	Vanlint S, Koczwara B, Frank OR, Emery J.	2014 RACGP/Osteoporosis Australia Bone Health Research Grant	$28 704
2012	Increasing prevention, detection and treatment of osteoporosis through automated opportunistic reminders to patients, general practitioners and practice nurses.	Frank OR, Stocks NP, Aylward P.	2011 RACGP/Osteoporosis Australia Bone Health Research Grant	$29 528
2011	Effect and dose-response of a standardised garlic preparation on blood pressure in individuals with mild to moderate hypertension.	Ried K, Frank OR, Stocks NP.	2011 Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Grant	$15 000
2011	Feasibility, acceptability and sustainability of automated production of pre-consultation patient prevention summary and reminder sheets: pilot study.	Frank OR, Stocks NP, Aylward P.	2011 RACGP Foundation Grant for a Pilot Study	$19 846
2010	Beliefs and attitudes of older people with impaired cognition, and of their relatives, towards the impaired person’s continuing to drive.	Frank OR, Stocks NP, Pond D.	Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Research Foundation/Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD) Research Fellowship	$29 333

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Committee Memberships

Date	Role	Committee	Institution	Country
2017 - 2019	Member	Clinical and Technical Board Advisory Committee	Australian Digital Health Agency	Australia
2015 - ongoing	Member	RACGP Expert Committee – eHealth and Practice Systems	Royal Australian College of General Practitioners	Australia
2014 - ongoing	Member	Strategy Group, SA Cancer Service	SA Health	Australia
2013 - ongoing	Member	eHealth network, RACGP National Faculty of Specific Interests	Royal Australian College of General Practitioners	Australia
2012 - ongoing	Member	Northern Region GP Council	Northern Health Network	Australia
2011 - ongoing	Member	National Bowel Cancer Screening Program State Reference Group	SA Health	Australia
2010 - ongoing	Member	Writing group, MATES quality use of medicines program	Department of Veterans’ Affairs	Australia

Position: University Senior Research Fellow
Phone: 83133455
Email: oliver.frank@adelaide.edu.au
Fax: 8313 3511
Campus: North Terrace
Building: Helen Mayo North, floor 1
Room: 113
Org Unit: General Practice

Dr Oliver Frank

Appointments

Education

Certifications

Research Interests

Journals

NHMRC Endorsed Guidelines

Theses

2010 onwards

Committee Memberships

Connect With Me

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