Publication
Title
The research agenda for general practice/family medicine and primary health care in Europe: part 4: results: specific problem solving skills
Author
Abstract
The Research Agenda for General Practice/Family Medicine and Primary Health Care in Europe summarizes the evidence relating to the core competencies and characteristics of the Wonca Europe definition of GP/FM, and its implications for general practitioners/family doctors, researchers and policy makers. The European Journal of General Practice publishes a series of articles based on this document. The previous articles presented background, objectives, and methodology, as well results on primary care management and community orientation and the person-related core competencies of GP/FM. This article reflects on the general practitioner's specific problem solving skills. These include decision making on diagnosis and therapy of specific diseases, accounting for the properties of primary care, but also research questions related to quality management and resource use, shared decision making, or professional education and development. Clinical research covers most specific diseases, but often lacks pragmatism and primary care relevance. Quality management is a stronghold of GP/FM research. Educational interventions can be effective when well designed for a specific setting and situation. However, their message that usual care by general practitioners is insufficient may be problematic. GP and their patients need more research into diagnostic reasoning with a step-wise approach to increase predictive values in a setting characterized by uncertainty and low prevalence of specific diseases. Pragmatic comparative effectiveness studies of new and established drugs or non-pharmaceutical therapy are needed. Multi-morbidity and complexity should be addressed. Studies on therapy, communication strategies and educational interventions should consider impact on health and sustainability of effects.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The European journal of general practice. - Amersfoort
Publication
Amersfoort : 2010
ISSN
1381-4788 [print]
1751-1402 [online]
DOI
10.3109/13814788.2010.504982
Volume/pages
16 :3 (2010) , p. 174-181
ISI
000298279800009
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 26.10.2010
Last edited 09.10.2023
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