Doing research in general practice: advice for the uninitiated.

There is increasing recognition of the importance of primary care research in relation to diabetes. Doing research in general practice is in many ways different from the hospital setting. This article considers some of the potential barriers to doing valid and reliable research in general practice. It is written for both novice researchers and researchers new to the general practice setting. Careful initial definition of the research question is crucial, especially as the clinical material may be less well defined in general practice and patients' problems need addressing on many levels (physical, psychological, social, cultural). Searching the literature for general practice-based studies is not straightforward. If your study involves more than one geographical site you may have to obtain ethical approval from multiple research ethical committees, and it is prudent to discuss your research with the Local Medical Committee. Practical advice is given on working with practices: improving response rates from questionnaires; recruiting and retaining practices; 'getting hold' of the GPs; particular difficulties related to novice or experienced practices; ensuring uniformity of methodology; and the importance of ancillary staff. Contentious issues such as money should be discussed at the outset. Many areas of the country now have General Practice Research Networks, and many of these now have NHS R&D support funding. Training in research methodology can be accessed through the Association of University Departments of General Practice or Royal College of General Practitioners or local departments of general practice. A list of useful contacts is given.