Discovering and doing family medicine and community health research

Family Medicine Researchers—Why? Who? How? When?

“…Family medicine has taken the lead on practice-based research networks and community-based participatory research, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. 7 Now and in the future, family medicine must continue to encourage, nurture, support, and develop our future researchers!…”

Response to letter by Lingping Zhu: Small ‘r’ research as big ‘R’ research in general practice

“…We appreciate Dr Zhu’s interest and points about the special issue on discovering and doing research in general practice (GP) 1. We agree with Zhu’s assertion that general practitioners have faced barriers applying research methods and conducting original research.…”

Reflexões e propostas para a estruturação de programas de Mestrado em Medicina de Família e Comunidade no Brasil

“…Assuming this methodological and interdisciplinary emphasis, it is necessary to highlight the broad clinical scope of FCM. However, its unique feature is the definition of a reference population and the interaction between psychosocial and biomedical aspects, at the individual, family, and community level in both the production of illness and care devices 38 Thus, FCM master's programs should allow the student to know the main methodological approaches available for clinical research (epi-demiological, diagnostic-therapeutic and qualitative) and, then, subsidize it to identify which of these best applies to your study question, also offering modules and optional courses of further study considering the chosen method. The curriculum should leave out a space for learning mixed methods of investigation, considering that the study population of an FCM doctor, especially one that intends to integrate its research into its care practice, is potentially small, however, rich in information and variables linked to the clinical and social context and which demand both quantitative and qualitative analysis.…”