> Resources and Publications > PHC RIS infonet > October 2007 > Practice Based Research Networks

Practice Based Research Networks (PBRNs)

Essential to the health of the nation…..or an obscure hobby?

Collation of workshop held 23 May 2007, General Practice and Primary Health Care Research Conference

Primary care research is essential to excellent health care. GPs and practice nurses recognise the value of research but struggle to commit the time and resources needed to participate. As a result important studies looking at issues of major national importance to practice and policy are rarely undertaken in Australia.

PBRNs – what are they and what are they for?

PBRNs are structures to facilitate research occurring in general practice. There are a number of successful examples from other countries including the long established Medical Research Council General Practice Research Framework in the UK.

The Njimegen PBRN

Chris van Weel outlined the history of this long established network and how it is based on a set of comprehensive and organised practice records. Use of this longitudinal data for research has led to a large number of publications. The GPs involved in the network all have academic appointments at the University.

Scoping PBRN development across Australia

The attendees at the workshop were aware of a number of Practice Based Research Networks in the process of development

• Australian National University has started PracNet which is a group of six urban and four rural practices
• Hunter/New England/Central Coast – University of Newcastle has some support from their Faculty to develop a network. Fourteen practices are involved to date.
• VicRen – University of Melbourne Primary Care Research Unit has had a launch event in 2006 and has a part time coordinator employed to support this network. Five practices are currently involved.
• University of Queensland/Bond University/Griffith University – collaborating on developing a network to involve about 50 GPs
• Spencer Gulf- dealing with issues of isolation and rurality. Considering involvement of health professionals other than GPs
• South Australia – Flinders have a group of interested practices
• UNSW – Launch planned for later this year. Aim to involve 50 practices.

For more information contact
Jane Gunn
E: j.gunn@unimelb.edu.au