WestREN: a description of an Irish academic general practice research network

التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
العنوان: WestREN: a description of an Irish academic general practice research network
المؤلفون: Liam G. Glynn, Niamh O'Brien, Akke Vellinga, Kim E Kavanagh, Andrew W. Murphy
المصدر: BMC Family Practice
BMC Family Practice, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 74 (2010)
بيانات النشر: BioMed Central, 2010.
سنة النشر: 2010
مصطلحات موضوعية: medicine.medical_specialty, care research networks, Irish, Surveys and Questionnaires, Health care, Urban Health Services, Medicine, Humans, lcsh:R5-920, Academic Medical Centers, Data collection, business.industry, Public health, Data Collection, Professional Practice Location, Health services research, language.human_language, Family medicine, General practice, language, Residence, Health Services Research, Rural Health Services, Rural area, lcsh:Medicine (General), Family Practice, business, Ireland, Research Article
الوصف: Background Primary care research networks have been established internationally since the 1960s to enable diverse practitioners to engage in and develop research and education and implement research evidence. The newly established Western Research and Education Network (WestREN) is one such network consisting of a collaboration between the Discipline of General Practice at NUI Galway and 71 West of Ireland general practices. In September 2009 all member practices were issued with a questionnaire with two objectives: to describe the structure and characteristics of the member practices and to compare the results to the national profile of Irish general practice. Methods A postal survey was used followed by one written and one email reminder. Results A response rate of 73% (52/71) was achieved after two reminders. Half of practices were in a rural location, one quarter located in an urban setting and another quarter in a mixed location. Ninety-four per cent of general practitioners practice from purpose-built or adapted premises with under 6% of practices being attached to the general practitioner's residence. Over 96% of general practitioners use appointment systems with 58% using appointment only. All practices surveyed were computerised, with 80% describing their practices as 'fully computerised'. Almost 60% of general practitioners are coding chronic diagnoses with 20% coding individual consultations. Twenty-five per cent of general practitioners were single-handed with the majority of practices having at least two general practitioners, and a mean number of general practitioners of 2.4. Ninety-two per cent of practices employed a practice nurse with 30% employing more than one nurse. Compared to the national profile, WestREN practices appear somewhat larger, and more likely to be purpose-built and in rural areas. National trends apparent between 1982 and 1992, such as increasing computerisation and practice nurse availability, appear to be continuing. Conclusions WestREN is a new university-affiliated general practice research network in Ireland. Survey of its initial membership confirms WestREN practices to be broadly representative of the national profile and has provided us with valuable information on the current and changing structure of Irish general practice.
وصف الملف: application/pdf
اللغة: English
الوصول الحر: https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_dedup___::11bf9291bf9c3b4958f8372640dbe3e0Test
http://hdl.handle.net/10379/1939Test
حقوق: OPEN
رقم الانضمام: edsair.doi.dedup.....11bf9291bf9c3b4958f8372640dbe3e0
قاعدة البيانات: OpenAIRE