Development of a research agenda for general practice based on knowledge gaps identified in Dutch guidelines and input from 48 stakeholders
Burgers, Jako S.; Wittenberg, Jolanda; Keuken, Debby G.; Dekker, Frans; Hohmann, Femke P.; Leereveld, Dieuwke; Ligthart, Suzanne A.; Mulder, Jan Willem A.; Rutten, Guy; van der Wouden, Johannes C.; van Balen, Jacintha A.M.; Knottnerus, J. André
(2019) European Journal of General Practice, volume 25, issue 1, pp. 19 - 24
(Article)
Abstract
Background: Several funding organizations using different agendas support research in general practice. Topic selection and prioritization are often not coordinated, which may lead to duplication and research waste. Objectives: To develop systematically a national research agenda for general practice involving general practitioners, researchers, patients and other relevant stakeholders in healthcare.
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Methods: We reviewed knowledge gaps from 90 Dutch general practice guidelines and formulated research questions based on these gaps. In addition, we asked 96 healthcare stakeholders to add research questions relevant for general practice. All research questions were prioritized by practising general practitioners in an online survey (n = 232) and by participants of an invitational conference including general practitioners (n = 48) and representatives of other stakeholders in healthcare (n = 16), e.g. patient organizations and medical specialists. Results: We identified 787 research questions. These were categorized in two ways: according to the chapters of the International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC) and in 12 themes such as common conditions, person-centred care and patient education, collaboration and organization of care. The prioritizing procedure resulted in top 10 lists of research questions for each ICPC chapter and each theme. Conclusion: The process resulted in a widely supported National Research Agenda for General Practice. We encourage both researchers and funding organizations to use this agenda to focus their research on the most relevant issues in general practice and to generate new evidence for the next generation of guidelines and the future of general practice.
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Keywords: Clinical practice guideline, knowledge gap, research agenda, topic selection, Family Practice
ISSN: 1381-4788
Publisher: Informa Healthcare
Note: Funding Information: Members were selected from: (1) the national working group of heads of the eight research departments of general practice of the University Medical Centres (IOH-R); (2) the working group Science of the National Organization of General Practitioner Trainees (LOVAH); (3) the NHG Member Council; and (4) the NHG Committee for Scientific Research (CWO). The advisory board was supported by the Knowledge Institute of the Federation of Medical Specialists, which has extensive experience with developing research agendas for medical specialists, The Netherlands Patient Federation provided a patient representative for input from the patients’ perspective. The advisory board was chaired by AK, professor of research in general practice and former chair of the Health Council of the Netherlands and the Scientific Council for Government Policy, and supported by three NHG scientific staff members (DK, JW, JvB). The board members participated as independent individual experts, without burden and consultation. All board members completed a form declaring potential competing interests. No relevant competing interests were recorded. The board advised on identification of stakeholders and on classification and prioritization of research questions. They had eight face-to-face meetings and communicated in Publisher Copyright: © 2018, © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
(Peer reviewed)
