[Research in primary care: 1994-2003].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the characteristics of the original articles published in the journal Atención Primaria (Primary Care) during the last 10 years.


METHODS
Literature study.


METHODS
Primary health care.


METHODS
Original articles published in Atención Primaria between 1994 and 2003.


METHODS
The professional category of the authors, whether it was a multidisciplinary or multicentred study, the autonomous community of origin, the topic, the type of study, and if it had a grant or financial assistance.


RESULTS
1229 articles have been reviewed. In 40.0% of them a family doctor is included in the authorship. 31.4% can be considered multidisciplinary and 20.5% multicentred. The Communities of Valencia, Madrid, Andalusia, and Catalonia took up 60% of the volume of publications. The most common topic is the provision and organisation of the health services (40.5%). Only 4.3% of the designs are experimental. A grant or financial aid is stated in 16.2% of the articles.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the situation as regards the previous years has not varied too much, some positive findings, such as the emergence of research groups, increasing presence of multicentre and multidisciplinary studies, better access to sources of finance, etc, suggest that we are in a process of improving the quality of research in primary care.
de Castro
F López
FL
Unidad Docente de Medicina de Familia de Toledo, Gerencia de Atención Primaria, Servicio de Salud de Castilla La Mancha-SESCAM, Toledo, España. flopez@sescam.org
Rodríguez
O Fernández
OF
Chozas
M E Medina
ME
Hidalgo
E Rubio
ER
Lázaro
G Alejandre
GA
D015706:Bibliometrics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013997:Time Factors