May 2001 • Volume 7 • Number 5
Convocation builds on excitement for practice-based research
BY SHARON DICKINSON DENT
These family physicians and about 45 others swapped research ideas at the first meeting of the AAFP national research network.One hundred thirteen people participated in the first convocation of the AAFP's National Network for Family Practice and Primary Care Research March 21 - 24 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The convocation took place in the tradition of the national network's predecessor, the Ambulatory Sentinel Practice Network, which closed in 1999. If energy and enthusiasm at the 2001 convocation are any indication, the transition went smoothly. Former ASPN participants -- joined by those new to research -- expressed zeal to launch research projects that would address questions of importance to the discipline of family medicine and lead to improved patient care.
John Hickner, M.D., M.S., national network director, aims to get at least 10 percent of AAFP active members -- or about 6,000 practicing physicians -- involved in research. He guessed that up to 2,000 FPs currently participate in some way.
"There are lots of levels of participation," said Hickner. "It doesn't mean that the doctor has to become a researcher; that doctor can simply open his or her office to a research study and allow others to come in and collect data on the office practice. Or a doctor can choose to participate in gathering data or have his staff involved in gathering data. And then there's a need for doctors to go up to the next step and be clinical advisers to the research process, so although they might not be an investigator, they're providing advice and helping to shape the study, providing the input to get the questions right. Some actually like it so much, they go on to become investigators. We need all of those levels." (See the story "Practicing FPs form backbone of research team.")
For more information on participating in practice-based research, contact Tom Stewart, AAFP research network coordinator, by e-mail at tstewart@aafp.org or by phone at (800) 274-2237, Ext. 3172.
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2001 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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