How and Why to Study the Practice Content of a Practice-Based Research Network

The Article in Brief

Groups of primary care practices are joining together in practice-based research networks (PBRNs) to develop new knowledge about the primary care setting. One new PBRN studied the types of patients and medical conditions in its member practices. This will help the group conduct local research and determine whether their research findings apply to others. In addition, the study found that 70% of adult patients in the practices were either overweight or obese, and that doctors were more likely to counsel obese patients about diet or exercise compared to other patients.