title: Is a practice-based rural research network feasible in Europe?
abstract: Research in family medicine is a well-established entity nationally and internationally, covering all aspects of primary care including remote and isolated practices. However, due to limited capacity and resources in rural family medicine, its potential is not fully exploited yet. An idea to foster European rural primary care research by establishing a practice-based research network has been recently put forward by several members of the European Rural and Isolated Practitioners Association (EURIPA) and the European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN). Two workshops on why, and how to design a practice-based research network among rural family practices in Europe were conducted at two international meetings. This paper revisits the definition of practice-based research in family medicine, reflects on the current situation in Europe regarding the research in rural family practice, and discusses a rationale for practice-based research in rural family medicine. A SWOT analysis was used as the main tool to analyse the current situation in Europe regarding the research in rural family practice at both meetings. The key messages gained from these meetings may be employed by the Wonca Working Party on research, the International Federation of Primary Care Research Network and the EGPRN that seek to introduce a practice-based research approach. The cooperation and collaboration between EURIPA and EGPRN creates a fertile ground to discuss further the prospect of a European practice-based rural family medicine research network, and to draw on the joint experience.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family Medicine , Medical Faculty, University of Maribor , Maribor , Slovenia.|b Department of Family Medicine , Medical Faculty Ljubljana , Ljubljana , Slovenia.
authors.forename: Zalika
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Klemenc-Ketis
authors.affiliation: c Department of Family Medicine , Medical University in Wroclaw , Wroclaw , Poland.|d Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole , Opole , Poland.
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kurpas
authors.affiliation: e Agia Barbara Health Care Center, Heraklion , Crete , Greece.|f Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete , Heraklion , Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsiligianni
authors.affiliation: g EGPRN (European General Practice Research Network).|h Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö , Centre for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University , Malmö , Sweden.|i SNAMID (National Society of Medical Education in General Practice) , Prata Sannita , Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrazzuoli
authors.affiliation: j Department of General Practice , Faculty of Medicine, Joseph Fourier University , Grenoble , France.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jacquet
authors.affiliation: g EGPRN (European General Practice Research Network).|i SNAMID (National Society of Medical Education in General Practice) , Prata Sannita , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buono
authors.affiliation: k Institute of Rural Health , La Coruna , Spain.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lopez-Abuin
authors.affiliation: f Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete , Heraklion , Greece.|l International Federation of Primary Care Research Networks.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lionis
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005060:Europe; D005194:Family Practice; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012955:Societies, Medical
keywords: Research; community network; primary healthcare; quality improvement; rural population