About

Dr Karen Johnston is an early career researcher at the College of Medicine and Dentistry.  Karen has a strong interest in advancing health equity through research, particularly in rural and remote Australia.  She has substantial experience in health service evaluation and medical education research, working with partners across Queensland and internationally. 

Karen's current work focuses on place-based planning for health in the northern Queensland region.  She is currently working with remote communities to co-design, plan and evaluate improvements in delivery of care and other community-driven initiatives. Karen has also worked together with stakeholders in Fiji in her doctoral research, using participatory and decolonising methods to identify areas for positive change for the health and wellbeing of older people living with dementia.

Karen has experience in qualitative and quantitative research, with particular interests in participatory methodologies and the use of GIS in health research.  

Interests
Research
  • Rural and remote health
  • Health services
  • Pacific Islands and health
  • Health and services for older adults
  • GIS for health research
Experience
  • 2022 to present - Senior research fellow, JCU (Townsville)
  • 2017 to 2021 - Senior research officer, JCU (Townsville)
  • 2016 to 2019 - Research officer, THEnet Training for Health Equity Network (Townsville)
  • 2012 to 2017 - Research officer, JCU (Townsville)
Research Disciplines
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 14+ research outputs authored by Dr Karen Johnston from 2015 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Department of Health and Ageing - Contract Research

National Research Project on Remote Radiology Assessment Service Delivery

Indicative Funding
$378,906 over 3 years
Summary
This project will investigate outcomes of the BreastScreen Australia remote radiology assessment trial at sites through9out Australia. Engaging a remote radiologist may assist with overcoming many challenges associated with providing health services in a regional, rural or remote location. This project seeks to ensure that the alternative model of service delivery is appropriate for consumers, evidence-based and safe. Specifically, this project will assess how the new remote radiology model affects: - Patient safety - Patient acceptability - Staff acceptability of new model of service provision - The safe, efficient organisation of BreastScreen services
Investigators
Sarah Larkins, Rebecca Evans, Robyn Preston, Emily Callander, Sabe Sabesan, Leila Murison, Karen Johnston and Nicole Bates (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and Townsville Hospital and Health Service)
Keywords
rural health services; breast cancer screening; Telehealth; Radiology; Health Workforce
Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

Connect with me
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jcu.me/karen.johnston

Email
Phone
Location
  • 39.244, Medical 1 (Townsville campus)
Advisory Accreditation
Secondary Advisor
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