The Importance of Primary Care Research in Understanding Health Inequities in the United States

Abstract

Eliminating health and health care inequities is a longstanding goal of multiple United States health agencies, but overwhelming scientific evidence suggests that health and health care inequities persist in the United States, despite decades of research and initiatives to alleviate them. Because of its comprehensiveness, studying health inequities in the context of primary care allows for the use of multiple paradigms and methodologic approaches to understanding almost any state of health, disease, social challenge, or societal circumstance a patient or group of patients might face. We argue in this special communication that the many features/advantages of primary care research have valuable contributions to make in reducing health inequity, and scientists, journals, and funders should increase the incorporation of primary care approaches and findings into their portfolios to better understand and end health inequity.

Key informants perspectives on creating a high impact research department in family and community medicine: a qualitative project

“…All participants viewed research in primary care as critical as most patient care occurs in this setting. This is supported by the literature that primary care is about relationships among physicians, patients, families, and communities; it is the backbone of the health system, and primary care research is needed to inform policy that sustain healthcare delivery and the commitment to improving population health (9,37,(43)(44)(45). Our project ndings, supported by other studies, suggest that it was important to foster an overarching culture that values and supports primary care research through the establishment of strong funding policies by government and funding institutions (38,44,(46)(47)(48)(49).…”

Key informants perspectives on creating a high impact research department in family and community medicine: a qualitative project

“…All participants viewed research in primary care as critical as most patient care occurs in this setting. This is supported by the literature that primary care is about relationships among physicians, patients, families, and communities; it is the backbone of the health system, and primary care research is needed to inform policy that sustain healthcare delivery and the commitment to improving population health [ 10 , 45 , 51 – 53 ]. Our project findings, supported by other studies, suggest that it was important to foster an overarching culture that values and supports primary care research through the establishment of strong funding policies by government and funding institutions [ 46 , 52 , 54 – 57 ].…”

Barreras para el desarrollo de investigación en medicina familiar en Iberoamérica: Revisión sistemática

“…La consolidación de la medicina familiar, así como su fortalecimiento, dependerá de su capacidad para generar conocimiento mediante la investigación 7 ; sin embargo, contrario a esta visión, en la mayoría de los países iberoamericanos predomina una baja productividad científica en esta disciplina médica, en contraste con el impacto que esta tiene en los sistemas de salud 1,2,28,29 . Llama la atención la cantidad limitada de artículos originales que abordaron la problemática aquí expuesta.…”