Episode 130 (Sue-Anne Davidson - PhD Candidate)

Implementation of an Integrated Knowledge to Action strategy can be used to implement the clinical guidelines for the early detection of cerebral palsy in a state-wide early intervention service and the impact of social determinants of health on service engagement.

In this retrospective longitudinal cohort study that was completed in Western Australia’s tertiary paediatric early intervention service, knowledge translation strategies which included consumer  perspectives, clinician training and communities of practices guided implementation.

With referral number and age, delivery of early detection and intervention following the implementation of the guidelines, it was found that the implementation strategies were effective in reducing referral age with improved delivery of early detection assessments.

This has some very important implications on both short and long term health outcomes.

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Sue Anne Davidson is the Manager of Kids Rehab WA at the Perth Children’s Hospital and a PhD candidate at Curtin University. She has over 15 years experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of tertiary paediatric rehabilitation services at PCH.

Sue-Anne’s experience in clinical, management and leadership has enabled her to lead improvements within the tertiary hospital setting to improve accessible, equitable and sustainable services for children and adolescents in WA. 

She has served on several committees including the Disability Health Network’s Executive Advisory group and the WA Sustainable Health Review Clinical Reference Group. She is now the Co-Chair of the Child and Adolescent Health Service Disability Access and Inclusion Committee. 

Sue-Anne has a Masters in Health Administration and is a PhD candidate with her studies focusing on the development of a state-wide early detection network for children at high risk of CP and neurodevelopmental disability, linked to national and international best practice models.