Watch Me Grow (WMG) Integrated Project

Watch Me Grow (WMG) Integrated Project

An NHMRC partnership grant project in partnership with NSW Health, SWSLHD, Myhealth Oran Park, SCHN, Queensland Health, Brisbane PHN and University of Queensland using a cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) to evaluate a weblink for ‘universal’ surveillance of developmental problems in young children (16–24-month-olds). Trialling the WMG weblink in the primary care setting (GP practices) has practice and policy implications for supporting routine developmental surveillance by GPs using the opportunistic contact that typically occurs when families attend GP practices for their child’s immunisation visits or other routine health visits.  

The program was included in the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA) Impact report https://ahra.org.au/impact/ as “one of ten inspiring examples of research being successfully implemented in practice, resulting in tangible patient and public benefits demonstrating that improved and accelerated research translation is not only feasible but delivers improved patient outcomes and higher-performing and more sustainable health services”. https://ahra.org.au/2021/10/18/watch-me-grow-empowers-families-to-detect-developmental-problems-early/ 

See the WMG Integrated study protocol: Eapen V, Liaw ST, Lingam R, Woolfenden S, Jalaludin B, Page A, Kohlhoff J, Scott JG, Lawson KD, Lam-Cassettari C, Heussler H. Watch me grow integrated (WMG-I): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a web-based surveillance approach for developmental screening in primary care settings. BMJ open. 2022 Aug 1;12(8):e065823. Link to in resources: Watch me grow integrated (WMG-I): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a web-based surveillance approach for developmental screening in primary care settings. – Abstract – Europe PMC