Building a bridge from the swamp to the ivory tower: conducting randomised controlled trials in general practice

Heal, Clare, Banks, Jennifer, Divakaran, Pranav, and Buttner, Petra (2018) Building a bridge from the swamp to the ivory tower: conducting randomised controlled trials in general practice. Australian Journal of General Practice, 47 (3). pp. 153-157.

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Abstract

Background: Primary care research is underfunded. Few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are conducted in a primary care setting. However, it is important that clinical practice be informed by adequate primary care evidence so general practitioners (GPs) have tools and guidelines applicable to the patients they see.

Objective: The aim of this article is to describe and reflect on the experience of conducting five RCTs between 2003 and 2017 in a general practice setting with minimal funding, in North Queensland.

Discussion: Enabling factors include using grassroots research questions and engaging practice nurses. Barriers include ethics applications and insufficient funding.

Recommendations: to reduce study costs include compensating practice nurses rather than GP time. The findings are designed to encourage grassroots GPs to consider participating in pragmatic, feasible projects. The success of the projects was underpinned by the fact that they were established by a group of GPs who had interesting questions that were relevant to their clinical practice and not answered by current evidence.

Item ID: 53309
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 0300-8495
Keywords: primary care research, evidence based medicine, general practice
Date Deposited: 22 May 2018 23:27
FoR Codes: 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420319 Primary health care @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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