The Article in Brief

Promoting Participatory Research by Family Physicians

Ann C. Macaulay, CM, MD, FCFP

What This Study Found In participatory research, researchers partner with people who are affected by the topic being studied. It is increasingly recognized as an effective way to add relevance and value to primary care research. Family physicians are well-suited to this type of research because of their clinical partnerships with patients and communities, training in patient centered care, ability to work with uncertainty, pragmatism, interest in questions from patients, and ability to respond to community requests. The main challenges in conducting participatory research are lack of funding, expertise, and time. These factors might improve as support for this approach grows.