title: Conceptual problems in primary health care research.
abstract: Concepts are basic elements in all scientific work. New fields of investigation, like primary health care, have to adopt new concepts. These may have a, more or less, physical appearance or may be phenomenological by nature. Concepts may be defined by description or, more appropriate, by explication of necessary and sufficient attributes or characteristics, or by criteria to be fulfilled. One model for concept analysis contains steps as: determine the aims of analysis, identify all uses of the concept, determine the defining attributes, construct a model case, and define empirical referents. Another model, developed for analysis of phenomenological concepts, is based on accumulation of hundreds of explications of the meaning of the concept. Those are elaborated by Grouping, Reduction, Elimination, Hypothetical identification, Application, Final identification. Methods for concept analysis need to be further emphasized in doctoral programs. Even experienced scientists may need more training in such methods, when entering new fields. Students need accurate guidance through passages of conceptual work. Concept development should be accepted and encouraged as research projects in its own capacity. It makes quite a contribution to scientific knowledge, to elaborate an important concept in all aspects. In addressing new empirical problems, much work should be spared, if the researcher could use concepts already studied and described in the literature.
mesh_terms: D003210:Concept Formation; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012106:Research