DISSEMINATION RESEARCH IN PRIMARY-CARE - IMPACTING THE REAL-WORLD OF THE PRACTITIONER

Dissemination research in primary care should focus on getting informa tion our and changing practice. Family physicians have a strong orient ation toward prevention and are trusted source of advice for patients but often lack an infrastructure to assist in prevention. Physicians p rovide such preventive care as: health enhancement, risk avoidance, ri sk reduction, early identification, and complication reduction. Within this framework important research questions are raised within five ar eas: the system of care, office organization, the professional, the pa tient, and education. Increasing the capacity for research should focu s on the need for multidisciplinary teams; longitudinal community-base d cohere studies; inter-provincial studies; funded multiple-partner re search programs; practitioners organized with a regional focus; and su pport for fellowships and investigators. The success of dissemination depends on its respect for the context and priorities of both practiti oners and the public.