Pediatric research in office settings (PROS): A national practice-based research network to improve children's health care

Objectives. To describe the establishment of a national pediatric primary c are research network to improve children's health care-Pediatric Research i n Office Settings (PROS), and to evaluate the network's progress toward ach ieving its objectives. Setting. Pediatric practices in all 50 states and Puerto nice. Participants, Approximately 1400 pediatric practitioners from more than 470 practices. Results. Beginning in 1986, a core of volunteer pediatrician coordinators f rom participating American Academy of Pediatrics chapters were identified t o oversee local PROS efforts, represent practitioners, and inform the devel opment of proposed research studies. PROS subsequently recruited practition ers from around the country, building a research infrastructure and a syste m of collaboration between the practitioners, research staff at the AAP, an d investigative teams at academic institutions. This PROS collaboration has developed and conducted 10 primary care research studies that have added t o the knowledge base of pediatric primary care. Conclusions, PROS has accomplished two of its initial objectives-developmen t of a structure and process for pediatric practice-based research and prov ision of research experience to practitioners. Successful and consistent ac hievement of a third objective-meaningful dissemination of study results to relevant audienees-will depend on meeting several challenges.