Abstract

Each primary care paediatrician possesses a practitioner’s expertise on how a primary care practice runs and which research questions are most important for paediatric practice. Primary care paediatricians and researchers can work together to generate research questions, design study materials and protocols, obtain research funding, collect study data, analyse collected data and publish results. By linking with experts in study design and research methodology, practitioners capitalise on their expertise and can participate in generating new knowledge about paediatric practice and child health. The experience, achievements and selected results of the AAP’s Paediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) network will be described. AAP PROS practitioners say that they enjoy being part of a research effort that routinely solicits their input on study questions and designs and that examines questions relevant to the day-to-day practice of paediatrics. They also report that parents view practice research involvement in a very positive light and are eager to fill out questionnaires when they are a part of a study. European primary care paediatricians could see their own research questions develop into projects studied in an international practice-based research network that would improve the health of children and enhance the quality of primary care practice.