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Pediatric research in office settings (PROS): a national practice-based research network to improve children's health
R C Wasserman1, E J Slora, A B Bocian
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, USA.
Insights
The Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) network was established to enhance children's healthcare through practice-based research. It successfully developed a research structure and provided training, though disseminating findings remains a challenge.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Primary Care Research
- Healthcare Improvement Networks
Background:
- The need for a structured approach to pediatric primary care research was identified.
- Existing pediatric practices lacked a coordinated research infrastructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) network.
- To evaluate PROS's progress in improving children's healthcare.
- To foster collaboration between practitioners and researchers.
Main Methods:
- Established a national network of pediatric practices across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
- Engaged approximately 1400 pediatric practitioners from over 470 practices.
- Utilized volunteer pediatrician coordinators and academic research teams.
Main Results:
- Successfully developed a national pediatric practice-based research network (PROS).
- Conducted 10 primary care research studies, contributing to pediatric knowledge.
- Built a collaborative infrastructure involving practitioners, AAP staff, and academic institutions.
Conclusions:
- PROS achieved its objectives of establishing a research structure and providing practitioner research experience.
- Meaningful dissemination of study results requires addressing identified challenges.
- The network has laid the groundwork for ongoing advancements in pediatric primary care research.
Objectives:
To describe the establishment of a national pediatric primary care research network to improve children's health care-Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS), and to evaluate the network's progress toward achieving its objectives.
Setting:
Pediatric practices in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Participants:
Approximately 1400 pediatric practitioners from more than 470 practices.
Results:
Beginning in 1986, a core of volunteer pediatrician coordinators from participating American Academy of Pediatrics chapters were identified to oversee local PROS efforts, represent practitioners, and inform the development of proposed research studies. PROS subsequently recruited practitioners from around the country, building a research infrastructure and a system of collaboration between the practitioners, research staff at the AAP, and investigative teams at academic institutions. This PROS collaboration has developed and conducted 10 primary care research studies that have added to the knowledge base of pediatric primary care.
Conclusions:
PROS has accomplished two of its initial objectives-development of a structure and process for pediatric practice-based research and provision of research experience to practitioners. Successful and consistent achievement of a third objective-meaningful dissemination of study results to relevant audiences-will depend on meeting several challenges.
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