Research using electronic patient records in general practice. The EGPRN meeting in Bertinoro, Italy, May 2009

The European General Practice Research Network organized an international workshop on research using electronic patient records in Bertinoro, Italy, in May 2009. The authors were keynote speakers at the workshop, tasked with summarizing the theme research presentations on each of the two days of the meeting. The conference discussed the utility of capturing data in a way that can be appropriately analysed. In this application, the use of ICPC was repeatedly mentioned. Such research requires disciplined data entry and retrieval, and many times consistency in coding is a challenge, which may be met by definitions for coded classes. Quality of data is a concern in such research, and there were suggestions to involve the patients in improving the quality of their record. Clinicians are qualified to code data into electronic patient records accurately, capturing the fine nuances of the consultation. Income incentives, such as the Quality Outcomes Framework, run the risk of data distortion to improve financial gain. The role of all family doctors in research was emphasized, and the full potential of collecting data from family practice is practically achievable only through large databases collecting clinical records from every practice. EGPRN has dealt with this emerging theme in primary care research over the years. Interested family doctors are invited to attend future conferences to develop collaborative research projects using electronic patient records.