Review

Research in small steps

RESEARCH METHODS IN PRIMARY CARE
Y Carter and C Thomas (eds)
Radcliffe Medical Press, 1997, £18.99

Although the government has encouraged more research and education in primary care, and evidence-based medicine has been pioneered in the UK, there remains one problem— that most GPs and primary care workers need to know ‘how’. This book will tell any relatively inexperienced researcher all they need to know about what is involved in planning a research project.

The authors, mainly from an academic GP department in Birmingham, are very enthusiastic. The book is ambitious, covering all aspects a budding researcher might encounter and tackling hitherto untackled areas such as ‘funding’ and ‘IT’. Chapter one carefully contextualises the idea of primary care research — both historically and in the present. The final chapter encourages researchers to publish their work, giving style and content tips. It is qualified by the phrase that ‘the aim of research is to get published’, which is perhaps a little short-sighted.

Methodically, but readably, one is taken through different processes, from how to think of a research question, where to get funding, what type of study to choose and how to use statistics. Particularly spot on is the information introducing sources of funding and ethics committees.

The IT sections jump from very basic topics (what a computer is) to the Internet and data analysis, but they also provide excellent information about medical information searching.

Each chapter is written by an expert in that field. The chapters vary in depth, some assuming prior knowledge (eg the section on qualitative methods), others assuming none. After some chapters your knowledge will be complete, and after others you will have a reasonable idea of the subject and its limitations, and a full list of references to expand your knowledge. Each chapter has a thoughtful and up-to-date set of references or other information sources. In some instances names and contact numbers are given (eg contact numbers for specific IT suppliers).

To summarise, this book is well thought out and understandable. Now the whole process seems so approachable, I’m off to ‘do some research’.