Research in and on primary health care

There is a need for much more research in the primary health services especially in general practice. Epidemiological and clinical studies in this field can greatly improve our knowledge about modern concepts of health and disease in that large section of the population who do not come into contact with the institutionalised health services. Furthermore such research will complement work in other medical fields, thus reducing bias caused, for example, by short doctor-patient relationship. A major problem of research in primary care is the evaluation of what is often soft and complex data derived from multi-practice and inter-disciplinary studies. Research aimed at statistical significance may result in low clinical significance and vice versa.