A conceptual model for capacity building in Australian primary health care research.
BACKGROUND
Many general practitioners and primary health care practitioners lack research and evaluation skills. In response, the Australian Government has funded important capacity building initiatives.


OBJECTIVE
To propose a conceptual model to assist these initiatives.


METHODS
Four groups of research involvement are suggested: nonparticipants; participating (as part of a research team); managing/training (either leading research, or in formal training to do so); and academic (with, or leading toward, a doctorate). We outline six guiding principles for research capacity building: 1) a whole system approach, 2) accommodating diversity, 3) reducing barriers to participation, 4) enabling collaboration, 5) mentoring, and 6) networking.


CONCLUSIONS
This model forms a framework to help plan and evaluate research capacity building initiatives.
Farmer
Elizabeth
E
Department of General Practice, Flinders University, South Australia. liz.farmer@flinders.edu.au
Weston
Kathryn
K
D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005246:Feedback; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009313:National Health Programs; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000145:classification; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012108:Research Personnel; D012109:Research Support as Topic