Ellen McIntyre, PHC RIS
The current health sector reform process and the planning of the third phase of the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) Strategy have provided us with the opportunity to consider the future of primary health care research. With the government acknowledging that evidence-based policy and practice are fundamental to a primary healthcare system that delivers better health outcomes, research and evaluation will be the key to success of the reform agenda. So how will this shape what research we do?
The workshop Primary health care reform: setting the research agenda held at the 2009 GP & PHC Research Conference gives some ideas: research what you are passionate and knowledgeable about; consider what research does for patients; how does it help clinicians do their work better; how does this make the health system more effective; and what works/does not work. While it is expected that research around the reform agenda will be a significant focus, one hopes there will continue to be opportunities for investigator/curiosity driven research.
The PHCRED Strategy has provided opportunities for interested people to become researchers and for those already involved in research to further develop their research careers. It is hoped that the next phase of this Strategy will continue this support so that primary health care has a well-trained, active research workforce that identifies knowledge gaps, conducts research and is involved in ensuring that this evidence is used in primary health care policy and practice.
There is much to be done. The future of PHC research looks exciting.
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