Primary Care Research - a Blueprint for Action for Singapore

Abstract

Primary care research, hitherto overshadowed by research in the tertiary institutions, lacks impetus due to image, limitations of resources and poor infrastructure. This article looks into the current state of research development and the barriers. These hurdles can be overcome by a paradigm shift through the initiation of regular research meetings, training, infrastructure support and a collaborative research network to optimize time and resources. This will open the door to a wide field of primary care research, from basic, clinical research to health service and health system analysis and evaluation. Family physicians can tap on this opportunity to sharpen their critical appraisal skills through research, which can form an integral part of their continuous professional development. A network of pro-research family physicians will foster a vibrant research culture and pave the way to a renaissance of primary care research. Asia Pac J Public Health 2001;13(1): 49-53

Keywords

Primary care research research culture.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Campbell SM , Roland MO , Bentley E. et al. Research capacity in UK primary care. Br J Gen Pract 1999 Dec;49(449):967-70.

Whitford DL , Jelley D. , Gandy S. , Aouthern A. , van Zwanenberg T. Making research relevant to the primary healthcare team. Brit J Gen Pract 2000 Jul;50(456):573-6.

Chong TM

The Singapore Family Physicians - Annotated Review of Papers. Singapore

Family Physician 1987;13(2):112-6.

Chan Psm , Lim CL

Looking at death. Singapore

Family Physician 1980;6(4):106-14.

Chia SF

A survey of defaulting in general practice. Singapore

Fam Physician 1980;6(2):35-8.

Research Committee of CGPS. Housecalls: A general practice survey. Singapore Fam Physician 1985;11(1):9-15.

Fong NP , Chan Psm.

Management of diabetes mellitus in general practice: A study of 499 cases in Singapore. Singapore

Fam Physician 1989 ;15(3):131-9.

Chang Jmy , Chang LL Disease patterns in a family practice. Singapore Fam Physician 1983;9(4):174-7.

Emmanuel SC , Tan BY , Chan Psm.

One-day morbidity Survey of Outpatients. The Singapore

Fam Physician 1989;15(4):171-97.

10.

Emmanuel SC , Tan BY , Choo KW 1993 Morbidity Survey of Outpatients . The Singapore Fam Physician 1994;20(2):75-91.

11.

Jowett SM , Macleod J. , Wilson S. , Hobbs FD Research in primary care: extent of involvement and perceived determinants among practitioners from one English region. Br J Gen Pract 2000 May;50(454):387-9.

12.

Plane MB , Beasley JW , Wiesen P. , McBride P. , Underbakke G. Physician attitudes toward research study participation: a focus group . Wis Med J 1998 apr;97(4):49-51.

13.

Robinson G. , Gould M.

What are the attitudes of general practitioners towards research?

Br J Gen Pract 2000 May;50(454):390-2.

14.

Stange KC Primary care research: barriers and opportunities. J Fam Pract 1996 Feb;42(2):192-8

15.

Starfield B. A framework for primary care research. J Fam Pract 1996;42(2): 181-5.

16.

Griffin S. Diabetes care in general practice:meta-analysis of randomized control trials . Br Med J 1998; 317:390-6.

17.

Little PS et al. An open randomised trial of prescribing strategies for sore throat. Br Med J 1997; 314:722-7.

18.

Croughan-Minihane MS , Thom DH , Petitti DB Research interests of physicians in two practice-based primary care research networks. West J Med 1999 Jan;170(1):19-24.

19.

Russell G.

General practice research. Is it worth it?

Aust Fam Physician 1998 Jan-Feb;27(1-2):76-7.

20.

Hueston WJ , Mainous AG 3d. Family medicine research in the community setting: what can we learn from successful researchers? J Fam Pract 1996 Aug;43(2):171-6.

21.

Peter Curtis . What kind of research in family medicine-further reflections. Fam Med 2000;32(6):389-92

22.

Littlewood J. , Webb E. , Beer N. , Lazou E. A survey of postgraduate education programmes and research interests of GPs in community trusts in an inner city area. J R Soc Health 2000 Jun;120(2):96-9.

23.

Thomas P. , Griffiths F. , Kai J. , O'Dwyer A. Networks for research in primary health care. Br Med J 2001; 322:588-90.

24.

Nutting PA Practice-based research networks: building the infrastructure of primary care research. J Fam Pract 1996 Feb;42(2):199-203.

25.

Williamson HA Jr, Hector MG Jr, LeFevre M. , White RD Establishing a rural family practice research network. Fam Med 1988 Jan-Feb;20(1):51-4.

26.

Morris BA Community and university-partners in research. Fam Pract Res J 1992 Jun; 12(2): 123-30.

27.

NC Tan , P. Goh , LG Goh et al. Primary care doctors' practice in the management of adult asthma patients. Singapore Med J (in press).