Royal Flying Doctor Service 'field days': a move towards more comprehensive primary health care.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) field day program as a means of strengthening community capacity within a primary health care context in remote communities of north Queensland.


METHODS
Qualitative explanatory study using in-depth face-to-face and phone interviews with field day participants, field day coordinators and RFDS staff and a focus group with RFDS staff.


METHODS
Rural and remote communities of north Queensland that participate in RFDS field days.


RESULTS
Field days were found to be contributing to building capacity for health in the remote communities that have been involved in field days. Participants reported increased linkages and partnerships; increased participation; improved problem-solving capacity and increased knowledge transfer associated with the conduct of RFDS field days.


CONCLUSIONS
RFDS field days represent a viable framework for building community capacity for health in remote communities within a primary health care context.
Hill
Kristy
K
Royal Flying Doctor Service, Cairns Base, Queensland, Australia. khill@rfdsqld.com.au
Harris
Neil
N
D001359:Aviation; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011793:Queensland; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population