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Family Medicine Research: Implications for Wonca

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Niels Bentzen, MD, Professor of General Practice, Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Medisinsk Teknisk Forskningssenter, 7489 Trondheim, Norway, niels.bentzen{at}medisin.ntnu.no

The purpose of the article is to illustrate where in the lifelong curriculum of family medicine ought students, trainees, and family physicians learn about research in family medicine. The role of Wonca to promote this endeavor is discussed.

I describe the recruitment and training programs for family physicians and state the implication for Wonca to promote family medicine research in the undergraduate curriculum, during residency, and in the graduate study programs for experienced medical doctors. I describe the possible research fields in family medicine and the special methods that can be used to get reliable and valid answers to relevant questions in family medicine.

It is time for Wonca to develop a policy for family medicine research by developing a strategy to promote it. This can be done through a Wonca policy statement about family medicine research in the medical curriculum. Wonca can, in collaboration with national colleges, arrange workshops and master classes in research; create scholarships and fellowships for international family medicine researchers; influence journals and international bodies, such as the World Health Organization, governments, and colleges about the necessity of good family medical research; describe ethical guidelines for international primary care research; and create a number of databases for researchers to use.

Key Words: Family medicine research • family doctors • primary care, research • disease classification • International Classification of Primary Care ICPC • general practice

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				K. Mendis and I. Solangaarachchi PubMed perspective of family medicine research: where does it stand? Fam. Pract., October 1, 2005; 22(5): 570 - 575. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. van Weel and W. W. Rosser Improving Health Care Globally: A Critical Review of the Necessity of Family Medicine Research and Recommendations to Build Research Capacity Ann. Fam. Med, May 1, 2004; 2(suppl_2): S5 - S16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]