scholarly journals African primary care research: Choosing a topic and developing a proposal

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Mash
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Family Medicine ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Research Proposal ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Care Research ◽  
African Context ◽  
Research Studies

This is the first in a series of articles on primary care research in the African context. The aim of the series is to help build capacity for primary care research amongst the emerging departments of family medicine and primary care on the continent. Many of the departments are developing Masters of Medicine programmes in Family Medicine and their students will all be required to complete research studies as part of their degree. This series is being written with this audience in particular in mind – both the students who must conceptualise and implement a research project as well as their supervisors who must assist them.This article gives an overview of the African primary care context, followed by a typology of primary care research. The article then goes on to assist the reader with choosing a topic and defining their research question. Finally the article addresses the structure and contents of a  research proposal and the ethical issues that should be considered.

scholarly journals African Primary Care Research: Performing a programme evaluation

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian Dudley
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Programme Evaluation ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Qualitative Interviewing ◽  
Care Research ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Different Types ◽  
African Context

This article is part of a series on Primary Care Research in the African context and focuses on programme evaluation. Different types of programme evaluation are outlined: developmental, process, outcome and impact. Eight steps to follow in designing your programme evaluation are then described in some detail: engage stakeholders; establish what is known; describe the programme; define the evaluation and select a study design; define the indicators; planand manage data collection and analysis; make judgements and recommendations; and disseminate the findings. Other articles in the series cover related topics such as writing your research proposal, performing a literature review, conducting surveys with questionnaires, qualitative interviewing and approaches to quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

scholarly journals Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: a balance of relationship and rigour

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e000057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa DeJonckheere ◽  
Lisa M Vaughn
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Family Medicine ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Care Research ◽  
Semistructured Interviews

Semistructured in-depth interviews are commonly used in qualitative research and are the most frequent qualitative data source in health services research. This method typically consists of a dialogue between researcher and participant, guided by a flexible interview protocol and supplemented by follow-up questions, probes and comments. The method allows the researcher to collect open-ended data, to explore participant thoughts, feelings and beliefs about a particular topic and to delve deeply into personal and sometimes sensitive issues. The purpose of this article was to identify and describe the essential skills to designing and conducting semistructured interviews in family medicine and primary care research settings. We reviewed the literature on semistructured interviewing to identify key skills and components for using this method in family medicine and primary care research settings. Overall, semistructured interviewing requires both a relational focus and practice in the skills of facilitation. Skills include: (1) determining the purpose and scope of the study; (2) identifying participants; (3) considering ethical issues; (4) planning logistical aspects; (5) developing the interview guide; (6) establishing trust and rapport; (7) conducting the interview; (8) memoing and reflection; (9) analysing the data; (10) demonstrating the trustworthiness of the research; and (11) presenting findings in a paper or report. Semistructured interviews provide an effective and feasible research method for family physicians to conduct in primary care research settings. Researchers using semistructured interviews for data collection should take on a relational focus and consider the skills of interviewing to ensure quality. Semistructured interviewing can be a powerful tool for family physicians, primary care providers and other health services researchers to use to understand the thoughts, beliefs and experiences of individuals. Despite the utility, semistructured interviews can be intimidating and challenging for researchers not familiar with qualitative approaches. In order to elucidate this method, we provide practical guidance for researchers, including novice researchers and those with few resources, to use semistructured interviewing as a data collection strategy. We provide recommendations for the essential steps to follow in order to best implement semistructured interviews in family medicine and primary care research settings.

scholarly journals Exploring gaps, strategies and solutions for primary care research mentorship in the African context: A workshop report

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea M. McGuire ◽  
Kenneth Yakubu ◽  
Nana K. Ayisi-Boateng ◽  
Keneilwe Motlhatlhedi ◽  
Pius Ameh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Workshop Report ◽  
Care Research ◽  
Research Mentorship ◽  
African Context

scholarly journals African Primary Care Research: Quantitative analysis and presentation of results

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Mash ◽  
Gboyega A. Ogunbanjo
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Categorical Data ◽  
Research Proposal ◽  
Research Report ◽  
Master's Level ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Care Research

This article is part of a series on Primary Care Research Methods. The article describes types of continuous and categorical data, how to capture data in a spreadsheet, how to use descriptive and inferential statistics and, finally, gives advice on how to present the results in text, figures and tables. The article intends to help Master’s level students with writing the data analysis section of their research proposal and presenting their results in their final research report.

scholarly journals African primary care research: Quality improvement cycles

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Van Deventer ◽  
Bob Mash
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Project Proposal ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Care Research

Improving the quality of clinical care and translating evidence into clinical practice is commonly a focus of primary care research. This article is part of a series on primary care research and outlines an approach to performing a quality improvement cycle as part of a research assignment at a Masters level. The article aims to help researchers design their quality improvement cycle and write their research project proposal.

scholarly journals African primary care research: Reviewing the literature

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Ross ◽  
Bob Mash
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Research Proposal ◽  
Conceptual Frameworks ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Care Research ◽  
Relevant Evidence ◽  
The Social ◽  
Style Of Writing ◽  
Scientific Value

This is the second article in the series on African primary care research. The article focuses on how to search for relevant evidence in the published literature that can be used in the development of a research proposal. The article addresses the style of writing required and the nature of the arguments for the social and scientific value of the proposed study, as well as the use of literature in conceptual frameworks and in the methods. Finally, the article looks athow to keep track of the literature used and to reference it appropriately.

Pedometers can help people get more active as part of an exercise programme

BMJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. m877
Author(s):  
Rob Cook ◽  
Peter Davidson ◽  
Rosie Martin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Exercise Programme ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Care Research ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions

The study Hodkinson A, Kontopantelis E, Adeniji C, et al. Accelerometer- and pedometer-based physical activity interventions among adults with cardiometabolic conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis . JAMA Network Open 2019;2:e1912895. This study was funded by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (project number 390 ESWG Workstream 3). To read the full NIHR Signal, go to: https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-000880/pedometers-can-help-people-get-more-active-as-part-of-an-exercise-programme

scholarly journals African primary care research: Performing surveys using questionnaires

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Indiran Govender ◽  
Langalibalele H. Mabuza ◽  
Gboyega A. Ogunbanjo ◽  
Bob Mash
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Sample Size Calculation ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Research Proposal ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Care Research ◽  
Quantitative Data Analysis ◽  
Practical Guidance ◽  
Strategy Design

The aim of this article is to provide practical guidance on conducting surveys and the use of questionnaires for postgraduate students at a Masters level who are undertaking primary care research. The article is intended to assist with writing the methods section of the research proposal and thinking through the relevant issues that apply to sample size calculation, sampling strategy, design of a questionnaire and administration of a questionnaire. The articleis part of a larger series on primary care research, with other articles in the series focusing on the structure of the research proposal and the literature review, as well as quantitative data analysis.

scholarly journals Can a customer relationship management program improve recruitment for primary care research studies?

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 416-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Johnston ◽  
Sabrina T. Wong ◽  
Stephanie Blackman ◽  
Leena W. Chau ◽  
Anne M. Grool ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Customer Relationship Management ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Customer Relationship ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Research Recruitment ◽  
Care Research ◽  
Research Studies

Background: Recruiting family physicians into primary care research studies requires researchers to continually manage information coming in, going out, and coming in again. In many research groups, Microsoft Excel and Access are the usual data management tools, but they are very basic and do not support any automation, linking, or reminder systems to manage and integrate recruitment information and processes. Objective: We explored whether a commercial customer relationship management (CRM) software program – designed for sales people in businesses to improve customer relations and communications – could be used to make the research recruitment system faster, more effective, and more efficient. Findings: We found that while there was potential for long-term studies, it simply did not adapt effectively enough for our shorter study and recruitment budget. The amount of training required to master the software and our need for ongoing flexible and timely support were greater than the benefit of using CRM software for our study.

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