[5 years after the creation of the Nursing and Paramedical Hospital Research Program of the French Ministry of Health: issues and Challenges].

INTRODUCTION

since 2010, the French General Directorate for Healthcare Provision (DGOS) has launched an annual call for research projects which aims to promote the development of paramedical research: the Nursing and Paramedical Hospital Research Program (PHRIP).

CONTEXT

five years after its creation, the question arises to what extent this program has contributed to reinforce the importance of paramedical research in France.

OBJECTIVE

the objective of this study is to conduct a five years review of this program and to identify issues and challenges that it faces.

METHOD

all research projects selected in the PHRIP program from 2010 to 2014 were included. The analysis focused on quantitative (number of projects, project budget, overall budget per year, last budget share obtained as an indicator of progress of the project) and qualitative variables (profession of project leaders, themes of research, type of healthcare facility which receives funding for research project).

RESULTS

almost €l0M were committed for 104 research projects over a five-year period. Among the strengths of the PHRIP program is the positioning of the patient at the center of its research projects and the increasing diversity in projects leaders' professions. Challenges are to prioritize research on primary care, to involve independent private practice healthcare practitioners as well as strengthened methodological support of paramedical practitioners to build and conduct research projects.

DISCUSSION

a review ten years after the program launch would allow to assess, with hindsight, the impact of this program on the importance of paramedical research in France.

CONCLUSION

the PHRIP program has generated considerable interest among French paramedical practitioners. These have finally identified a public funding program specifically dedicated to them, which allows them to invest themselves in their own applied research.