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Research toolkit

91É«ÇéƬ Academic General Practice Network

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Welcome to the 91É«ÇéƬ Academic General Practice (GP) Network Research Toolkit

The 91É«ÇéƬ Academic General Practice Network has developed this toolkit to help GPs and non-GP researchers, GP registrars, clinicians interested in research and students (coursework and HDR) in developing and strengthening their research skills relevant in primary care. For each topic, we’ve selected free online resources that are relevant and accessible for those working in this field.

Research resources for health professionals

    • Research in general practice is essential for improving patient care, informing policy, and strengthening the primary health care system. It helps us understand what works in real-world clinical settings and ensures that care is evidence-based, patient-centred, and responsive to community needs. General practice research differs from research in secondary or tertiary care settings in several ways, including differences in models of care, case mix of patients and prevalence of diseases, continuity of care, challenges and benefits of caring for people living and working in their communities and emphasis on comprehensive healthcare including prevention and health promotion.

      To learn more, explore these resources:

      • – An overview of current challenges and opportunities in the field.
      • – How collaboration between GPs and researchers drives meaningful research.
      • Ìý–Ìýhighlights the importance of involving both clinicians and patients in research to strengthen the quality and relevance of primary care.
      • )Ìý–Ìýan alliance of practice-based research networks, based in universities and other organisations in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.Ìý

  • There are multiple approaches General Practice Research, explore these examples of different methodology.

  • The following resources cover key steps in the research process—from identifying a topic and research question to writing your literature review:Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý
      • Ìý–Clinical Information Access Portal provides an introduction to the PICO method.
      • Ìý– National Library of Medicine provides a comprehensive course on evidence-based practice, developing a clinical question and how to use PubMed to find relevant articles.
        • – Australian Journal of General Practice, explaining the value of Cochran Reviews for General Practice Research.
        • –ÌýPubMed, exploring different literature review types.
        • Ìý–ÌýA beginner-friendly guide to planning and conducting your literature review.
        • Ìý–ÌýLearn how to build a structured search strategy for systematic reviews.
        • Ìý– Tips and tools for conducting effective literature searches across databases.
      • Ìý– Raul Pacheco: Practical advice on reading, organising, and synthesising research articles.
      • Ìý– A hands-on method for mapping and comparing ideas across multiple sources.
      • – Emerald Publishing: Step-by-step guidance on structuring and writing your review for publication.

  • These resources explain key designs –observational,Ìýexperimental,Ìýcross-sectional,Ìýcohort, andÌýrandomised controlled trials (RCTs)Ìý– and how they apply in clinical and general practice settings:

    • Ìý– A practical guide to understanding different research approaches.
    • – Learn how to select and apply the most appropriate design for your study.

  • These resources guide you through insights in applying for ethics approval in general practice research, understanding key principles, and navigating requirements across different settings:

  • These resources introduce different data collection methods, highlight common tools, and explore how primary care data can be used effectively:
    • – Insights into leveraging GP data for research and improving patient care.
    • – From the CDC an overview of approaches including surveys, interviews, and qualitative techniques.
    • Comparison of Surveys, Interviews, and Focus GroupsÌý– Understand the strengths and limitations of each method.

  • These resources introduce different data collection methods, highlight common tools, and explore how primary care data can be used effectively:
    • Ìý– Case Study examples from Australian Journal of GP Paper
    • – AÌý guide tailored for healthcare professionals.
    • A short list ofÌý – Learn how to avoid misinterpretation of data in clinical research.
    • – With this brief guide explore different statistical software options and their features.

  • These resources explain plagiarism, citation and practices and tools to help manage references effectively to maintain academic integrity.

    • Understanding the different forms of plagiarism is essential to maintain academic integrity in your research in General Practice. These resources provides insights on what constituted as plagiarism, and tools to help researchers avoid plagiarism pitfalls and citing sources correctly.

      • Ìý–Ìýprovides a comprehensive explanation of plagiarism and its different forms.
      • – a helpful library of understanding, and how to prevent plagiarism.
      • 91É«ÇéƬ Policy and ModulesÌý–Ìýprovides resources and modules to understand plagiarism and 91É«ÇéƬ’s academic integrity policies.

    • offers a helpful online library tutorial and guide to build your understanding of citing and referencing.

    • Referencing tools and reference managers like EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero can help streamline the process of citing sources and managing references efficiently.

      • and provide great detailed comparison tables between these reference managers.

    • These resources offer practical guidance on writing and structuring research articles in general practice research:

      • Ìý–ÌýA consensus-based checklist developed to improve the reporting of primary care research.
      • Ìý–ÌýTips from editors on how to make your paper stand out.
      • – A helpful guide for those new to academic writing.
      • - A guide on scientific writing.
      • – Insights into writing clearly and effectively for health journals.

    • Explore this toolkit from for practical strategies on presenting your findings clearly and persuasively to a broader audience to drive impact and engagement.

  • Finding the right funding is a key step in starting or expanding your research.

    • Explore currentÌýgrants and funding opportunitiesÌýthrough the
    • ConsiderÌýcollaborating with universities or research networksÌýto strengthen your application and access support. Learn more via the

  • Connecting with general practice research groups or networks can open up opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and access to research infrastructure.

    Explore university departments and

    Interested in learning more about the 91É«ÇéƬ Academic GP Network? Look at our website for expression of research for research projects or contact us! academicgpnetwork@unsw.edu.au

  • Collaborating with consumers and across institutions can enhance the relevance of research methods and support the uptake of findings in practice.

    • Ìý–ÌýA short guide to get started and become more familiar with co-design research.
    • VicHealth Ìý–ÌýThis tool is for organisations entering into or working in a partnership to assess, monitor and maximise its ongoing effectiveness.Ìý

Contact usÌýif you would like more information or if you would like to join the GP Network.
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