#GPFUQ 134 Whats the difference between research,
evaluation, and audit ? Research - generates new knowledge (see #GPFUQ 136). Evaluation -
answers the question 'what standard does this service achieve?' Audit - answers the question 'Does this service reach the set standard?'
#GPFUQ 135
Whats the difference between innovation, improvement and invention? Innovation is doing something
different and better and usually using a novel idea or method whilst
improvement is doing the same thing better. Invention is the creation of the
idea or method.
#GPFUQ
136 What is GP research? Research finds out what we ought to
do when the existing knowledge can’t give a clear answer. It’s the attempt to
derive generalisable new knowledge by addressing clearly defined questions
using systematic and rigorous methods. Clinical research is based primarily on
patients or ex-patients and designed to answer a question about disease
(aetiology, concomitants, diagnosis, prevention, outcome or treatment). There
are two main types of research in primary care, commercial (or industry) and
non-commercial (or academic). Non-commercial research is usually funded by the
NHS, research councils, charities or grant giving bodies and covers a wide
range of activities motivated by knowledge rather than commercial gain.
Commercial research is usually funded by pharmaceutical companies undertaking
clinical trials of new medicines.
#GPFUQ 137 What should be the research priorities in
GP? Find the most effective ways to improve processes and outcomes, and reduce
unnecessary interventions.
#GPFUQ 138 What is
GP Educational research? This is like a forgotten Cinderella that is waiting a
makeover and an invitation to the ball for improving quality of teaching and
learning. Too many educational processes are based on the mistake of ‘trying to
fill buckets’ with information rather than ‘lighting a fire’ of learning. The
literature has too many studies that are observational, address only local
questions, are small scale, repetitive, lack any theoretical basis, and do not
build on the knowledge base. In planning a project it’s helpful to start by
writing a ten sentence abstract of the completed project that includes the
practical problem that you are trying to solve, the theoretical problem you are
trying to solve (the theory should include an explanation a prediction and a
testable hypothesis), the methodology (what data is needed, is there a defined
outcome, where is the data obtained, how is it collected, how many subjects,
how is the data recorded and stored), the analysis (how will the results be
analysed) and the findings (what do you expect to find including the practical
and theoretical implications).
