Reflections from organization science on the development of primary healthcare research networks

In the UK, policy changes in primary health care research and development h ave led to the establishment of primary care research networks. These organ izations aim to increase research culture, capacity and evidence base in pr imary care. As publicly funded bodies, these networks need to be accountabl e. Organizational science has studied network organizations including why a nd how they develop and how they function most effectively. This paper draw s on organizational science to reflect on why primary care research network s appear to be appropriate for primary care research and how their structur es and processes can best enable the achievement of their aims.