Why is Primary Care research important?
Research is essential to improve healthcare, solve problems and reduce health inequalities. Primary care is a largely untapped resource for research delivery - as described in the O’Shaughnessy review (ref 1) and other literature (ref 2), primary care is a negligible provider of trial activity despite the opportunity it provides for delivery population scale trials (10%), with only 4% practices offering commercial trial recruitment.
In primary care, we have access to vast numbers of patients and a huge workforce; we generally have good connections with our patients based on a relationship of trust and we deliver services locally enabling easy access for patients. We serve diverse populations and deliver a wide range of healthcare services.
The evidence suggests research active organisations have better patient outcomes. Research can also generate income and help create diverse job plans, which in turn can improve organisational resilience by increasing job satisfaction and improving staff retention. It provides a unique opportunity to be involved in work which will ultimately shape the healthcare we deliver to our local communities.