Volume 19 Supplement 1 June 2010
*Hilary Pinnocka, Mike Thomasb, Ioanna Tsiligiannic, Karin Lisspersd, Anders Østreme, Björn Ställbergf, Osman Yusufg, Dermot Ryanh, Johan Buffelsi, Jochen WL Calsj, Niels H Chavannesk, Svein Høegh Henrichsenl, Arnulf Langhammerm, Elena Latyshevan, Christos Lioniso, John Littp, Thys van der Molenq, Nick Zwarr, Siân Williamss
a General Practitioner, Whitstable Medical Practice, Whitstable, Kent, UK; Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Allergy and Respiratory Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences: GP Section, University of Edinburgh, UK
b General Practitioner, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, UK; Asthma UK Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, UK
c General Practitioner, Agia Barbara Health Care Centre, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; University Medical Center of Groningen, The Netherlands
d General Practitioner, Gagnef Primary Health Care Centre, Gagnef, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
e General Practitioner, Gransdalen Legesenter, Oslo, Norway
f General Practitioner, Trosa Primary Health Care Centre; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
g Chief Primary Care/GP Trainer, and Consultant Allergy and Asthma Specialist, The Allergy & Asthma Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan
h General Practitioner, Woodbrook Medical Centre, Loughborough, UK; PCRS-UK Clinical Research Fellow, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, UK
i General Practitioner, Helix Network, Anderlecht, Belgium; Research Associate, Department of General Practice, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
j GP trainee and Research Fellow, Department of General Practice, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
k Associate Professor, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
l General Practitioner, Langbølgen Legesenter, Oslo, Norway; Researcher, Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
m General Practitioner, Hovdinggarden Medical Centre, Steinkjer, Norway; Associate Professor, HUNT Research Centre, Department of General Practice and Public Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
n Allergologist, The Department of Allergology and Immunotherapy, Institute of Immunology, Moscow, Russia
o Head of Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Professor of General Practice and Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
p Associate Professor, Discipline of General Practice, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
q Professor, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
r General Practitioner, University Health Service, Sydney, Australia; Professor of General Practice, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
s Executive Officer, International Primary Care Respiratory Group
Received 7 March 2010 • Accepted 11 March 2010 • Online 31 May 2010
Abstract
AIM: Respiratory diseases are a public health issue throughout the world, with high prevalence and morbidity. This Research Needs Statement from the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) aims to highlight unanswered questions on the management of respiratory diseases that are of importance to practising primary care clinicians. METHODS: An informal but inclusive consultation process was instigated in 2009. Draft statements in asthma, rhinitis, COPD, tobacco dependence, and respiratory infections were circulated widely to IPCRG members, other recognised experts, and representatives from a range of economic and healthcare backgrounds. An iterative process was used to generate, prioritise and refine research questions in each section. RESULTS: Two overarching themes emerged. Firstly, there is a real need for research to be undertaken within primary care, which recruits patients representative of primary care populations, evaluates interventions realistically delivered within primary care, and draws conclusions that will be meaningful to professionals working within primary care. Secondly, international and national guidelines exist, but there is little evidence on the best strategies for implementing recommendations. Disease-specific research questions focus on effective and cost-effective ways to prevent disease, confirm the diagnosis, assess control, manage treatment, and empower selfmanagement. Practical questions about how to deliver this comprehensive agenda in diverse primary care settings are highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: We hope that this Research Needs Statement will be used by clinicians and patients campaigning for answers to relevant questions, by researchers seeking funding to provide answers to these questions, and by funding bodies to enable them to prioritise research agendas.
Cite as: Pinnock H, Thomas M, Tsiligianni I, Lisspers K, Ostrem A, Stallberg B, Yusuf O, Ryan D, Buffels J, Cals JWL, Chavannes NH, Henrichsen SH, Langhammer A, Latysheva E, Lionis C, Litt J, van der Molen T, Zwar N, Williams S. The International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) Research Needs Statement 2010. Prim Care Respir J 2010;19(Suppl 1):S1-S20. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2010.00021
Keywords
Asthma, rhinitis, COPD, smoking, tobacco dependence, respiratory, infections, IPCRG, research, strategies, primary care, guideline implementation, delivery of care
* Corresponding author. Hilary Pinnock Tel: +44 (0)131 650 8102 Fax: +44 (0)131 650 9119 Email: hilary.pinnock@ed.ac.uk