title: The Research Agenda for General Practice/Family Medicine and Primary Health Care in Europe. Part 1. Background and methodology.
abstract: At the WONCA Europe conference 2009 the recently published 'Research Agenda for General Practice/Family Medicine and Primary Health Care in Europe' was presented. The Research Agenda is a background paper and reference manual for GPs/ family doctors, researchers and policy makers, providing advocacy of general practice/family medicine GP/FM in Europe. The Research Agenda summarizes the evidence relating to the core competencies and characteristics of the WONCA Europe definition of GP/FM, and its meaning for researchers and policy makers. Evidence gaps and research needs are pointed out to provide a basis for planning research for which there is a need and for action that may influence health and research policy, i.e. applying/lobbying for research funds. WONCA Europe and its associated networks and special interest groups could consider the agenda's research priorities when planning future conferences, courses, or projects, and for funding purposes. The European Journal of General Practice will publish a series of articles based on this document. In this first article, background, objectives, methodology and relevant literature are discussed. In subsequent articles, the results will be presented.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. hummers-pradier.eva@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hummers-Pradier
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eilat-Tsanani
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lionis
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peremans
authors.forename: Davorina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petek
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rurik
authors.forename: Jean Karl
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Henri Ejh
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Stoffers
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Topsever
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ungan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Royen
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005060:Europe; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration