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EGPRW European General Practice Research Workshop

A research strategy for EGPRW

Research in general practice in Europe Research in general practice has been considered an important tool for the further expansion and development of this medical speciality in Europe and many publications have focused on that subject.’” European General Practice Research Workshop is the European Network that aims, among others, to promote and stimulate research in general practice and primary care as well as to initiate and coordinate multinational research projects.

A research strategy for EGPRW EGPRW has, in the past, promoted and conducted a number of collaborative studies, such as the Interface Study, the Referral Study coordinated by Douglas Fleming and the Home Visit Study.+, More recently the workshop has mainly discussed papers with the aim of inspiring and encouraging individual re- searchers. The outcome ot those discussions has not been clear, for example whether the papers are written up as a letter or article for publication. With the current status of EGPRW as an official colla- borating network organisation of the ESGPFM, small funds have come available to EGPRW supporting new initiatives to develop a strategy of promoting research in general prac- tice. This paper describes the development of this strategy by EGPRW, the gist of it and the procedures to be followed.

Developing research within EGPRW During the EGPRW meeting at Palma de Mallorca in May 1999, the Executive Board and the Council of National Representatives decided to invest some money in a research strategy (see minutes Board meeting in Palma de Mallorca, May 1999). In Palma, it was announced that 5000 Euro would be available to fund promising research proposals in 1999.

A Research Strategy Committee (RSC) was also estab-lished, with members drawn from the EGPRW Executive and Council:

Gali Ferran (Spain) - Council Frances Griffith (UK) - Executive Christos Lionis (Greece) - Executive Paul Van Royen (Belgium) - Executive Hagen Sandholzer (Germany) - Council

The RSC was asked to keep in close contact with Douglas Fleming, for his expertise within international research, and

Jan-Joost Rethans, since he reinitiated the establishment of this committee. The RSC met for the first time in Antwerp on 3 September 1999. The Committee developed a proposal for further action. This was presented to the General Council and Executive Board of EGPRW at the Gottingen meeting and was approved. This research strategy is described below.

EGPRW research strategy

Aims The EGPRW research strategy has been developed to promote research in general practice. The aims correspond with the overall aims of EGPRW and are as follows: A.

B.

To encourage the exchange of theory, methods and results of research in Europe, including both junior and senior researchers, individuals and research groups. In sharing research, attention is focused on the research ideas and questions and their relevance to general practice. Multinational, collaborative research and research between different academic disciplines is encouraged. To encourage research in and on general practice by:

developing, supporting and assessing research pro-

developing a strategic plan for research that is

helping individuals to publish research papers in

posals;

regularly reviewed and updated by the RSC;

international journals.

EGPRW regularly organises international courses on research methods. It was agreed at the Gottingen meeting that an education strategy committee would develop a strategy for developing this activity.

Stepwise development In order to promote research in general practice, a stepwise strategy is suggested:

Ideas for small projects Proposals for small research projects Collaborative research (involving two or three countries) Multinational (European) projects.

Projects that do not yet have the gravitas associated with a collaborative study will be encouraged. Young researchers and researchers from countries in which general practice is developing as a scientific discipline, will be encouraged to perform good research.

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Researchers with ideas for small projects can present them in a one-slide five-minute presentation. Following the work- shop discussion, the idea can be developed into a research proposal, and perhaps a pilot study undertaken. This can then be presented during the next workshop.

If research has been done on a local level and the conclusions might be interesting if the research was under-taken in a wider context, the local results can be presented at EGPRW with a proposal for a collaborative project involving two or three countries. Some projects may go on to develop into Europe-wide projects.

Each project can come to EGPRW at any of the different steps. However, the further forward a project is on the steps, the more the researchers should be involved in EGPRW.

At several stages in the stepwise progression, EGPRW may provide funding or support the researcher in seeking funding. This may include cofunding on a European level, including special projects funding from the European Society of General Practice, and funding by the European Com- munity.

Proposals for collaborative research, supported by EGPRW, could be recommended to the ESGP by the RSC, in agreement with the applicant. The RSC will communicate with the ESGP to discuss ths, including how we would select proposals and how EGPRW can advise the ESGP Review Committee.

Criteria for research proposals seeking funding from EGPRW The following criteria have been agreed upon for any research motlosal seeking funding from EGPRW:

There 'shduld be a w-ritten avbstract selected for and presented to an EGPRW meeting. The research proposal should be submitted within two years of the presentation to EGPRW. The application (maximum 4 pages) should contain the following sections:

Introduction, background (e.g. relevant literature) Aimdobjectives of the project Research plan including methods to be used Description of how the success of rhe project will be evaluated Dissemination of the results and further development Budget plan Timetable Justification of the need for EGPRW funding Identity of project leader and co-applicandinvesti- gators (the selection committee can ask for a curriculum vitae) If the research is to be carried out in several countries, a letter of agreement from an applicant in each country is required Letter of approval by ethical committee or details of stage in process of gaining ethical advice (if necessary).

Timetable for applying for research funding Proposals should be submitted to the EGPRW secretariat before 15 July or 15 December. The applications for project funding will be reviewed by a selection committee in January and July/August. A decision will be reached by 15 February or 15 September. For each proposal an EGPRW member with expertise in the research methodology and/or the research topic will be asked to review the proposal and advise the selection committee. Criteria for selection will include:

Feasibility of the project Quality of research proposal Relevance for general practice/family medicine.

The selection committee can: Reject the proposal Suggest revision and resubmission Approve the proposal for financing.

The Research Strategy Committee may also encourage people to apply for other European funds.

I t will be a condition of funding for any project that the results are presented at an EGPRW meeting.

Amount and use of funding For small projects up to 5000 Euro will be available. For collaborative studies up to 8000 Euro will be available. The funding can be used for the following:

Payment of a locum to free time Secretarial support Literature review Translation Materials, laboratory costs, software Travel expenses Meeting costs Personnel costs and fees Other items approved in project budgets.

Other action points for the RSC

Publication EGPRW members have a notion that not all papers presented at EGPRW go on to be written up and published as a letter or article in a journal. The RSC proposes that EGPRW should stimulate and monitor this written output as follows:

The feedback form used for presentations will contain questions about the presenter's plans for publication. This will stimulate presenters to think about writing up their work. If EGPRW members, after having presented a paper, experience problems in writing it up as an article or letter, they can ask the EGPRW secretariat for help. The request for help will be passed to the RSC who will then ask an experienced researcher to provide assistance. The assist- ance may take several forms:

Advice on writing a paper from the research material

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Advice on specific problems Help with correcting English language.

For an overview on the problem and to maintain a list of published research work that has been presented at EGPRW, a questionnaire will be sent to all presenters to ask them if they published the research. The survey will be undertaken regularly, one year after presentation. The first survey will include all presenters at EGPRW from 1996. The results of the survey will be used to assess the level of difficulty researchers face in getting their research published. Published research that has been presented at EGPRW will be listed on the EGPRW web site. Co-authorship is only possible when individuals are involved in a research project from the start. EGPRW will encourage the less experienced researchers and research groups to seek an advisor/collaborator through EGPRW, early in a project, if such a person is not avail- able in their own department or country.

Collaborative research: sharing information and experience At each workshop an opportunity will be created for information to be shared about possibilities for research in a European context. Half an hour will be allocated for this information sharing. This will be announced at the beginning of the workshop. Individuals can present a topic for up to 5 min through informal presentation or discus- sion.

Research strategy timetable: Submitting proposals before 15 July or 15 December Decisions about proposals before 15 September or 15

Future call for abstracts contains standard information

Information about proposals and advice is put on the

Reviews/selection of proposals will be done by e-mail Meeting of RSC: once a year Survey of publications (for the years 1996-1997-1998) The strategy should be reassessed regularly, at the latest

February

about proposals and advice

EGPRW website

after two years.

Outcome measures for the research strategy Although this subject needs further discussion, the following crude indicators have been proposed by the RSC in order to be used as outcome measures for the evaluation of the decided research strategy:

Number of projects financed by EGPRW, ESGP Number of publications on the EGPRW list Quality of research papers Number of collaborative projects proposedhcceeding Number of collaborative studies submitted fodgaining European funding.

In conclusion, a RSC has been established within the EGPRW and a strategy with definitive goals and procedures has been formulated. The preliminary results in terms of members’ participation following the first call for submitting proposals in the Gottingen meeting are very encouraging.

Van Royen Paul, Belgium. Griffith Frances, UK.

Lionis Christos, Greece. Rethans Jan-Joost, the Netherlands.

Sandholzer Hagen, Germany. Cali Ferran, Spain.

References 1 World Health Organization. A charter for general practice/family me-

dicine in Europe. Regional office for Europe, 1995. 2 Kuenssberg EV. A European General Practitioner through research.

Allgemeinmedizin International 1979;6: 109-1 0. 3 Bruusgaard D. European general practice research workshop

(EGPRW). Is international cooperation worth while? Scand J Prim Health Care 1986;4:238-40.

4 COMAC-HSR in collaboration with the EGPRW (1990). The Inter- face study. Crombie DL, Zee J van der, Backer P, eds. Occasional Paper 48, published by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

5 Fleming DM. The European Study of Referrals from Primary to Se- condary Care. Report to the COMAC-HSR, 1992.

6 Van Royen P, Svab I, Miranda JA. Home visits in European general practice - a qualitative study. Family Practice 1999;16:328-9.

MISCELLANEOUS

Continued from page 68.

Professor Polliack will be remembered by all those who worked with him, not for his prestige, but for his simple and human concern for each and every one of them. He always made colleagues and juniors alike feel that their opinions were important and their work was valuable. He never took anything or anyone for granted, and was particular to give thanks wherever it was due. Shirley and Max opened their home to his colleagues and students,

with exceptionally generous hospitality. A man of vision, he leaves us a legacy of loyalty and selfless public activity, preserving the highest moral standards.

Professor Polliack is survived by his wife of 47 years, a daughter who is a nurse, three sons and two brothers, all doctors, and an aged mother. 1

Michael Weingarten, professor of family medicine.

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