case reports in primary care - dr geoff wong
TRANSCRIPT
Case reports in Primary Care
Dr Geoff WongDeputy Editor - JMCRGP Principal and NIHR Clinical LecturerResearch Department of Primary Care and Population Health, UCL
Aims:
• The aim of my talk is not to ‘teach’ you anything but to ask for your help to solve a puzzle…
– “Why don’t primary care physicians seem interested in submitting case reports?”
An observation…
• In over a year as a deputy editor at JMCR, I have yet to see a single manuscript that comes from primary care
• I am told that this is the norm by JMCR staff
• Why is this so? As we have already heard, case reports do have a value and purpose!
Primary Care physicians are everywhere!
• Taking just the UK…
– About 30,000 qualified GPs– Account for 80 to 90% of all NHS consultations– That’s about 250 million consultations per year– Manage about 85% of the health needs of the UK population
• Surely some of what we see must be ‘interesting’ and worth writing up?
Why, oh, why?
• This is where I need your help…
• Over the next 3 minutes, please group yourselves into pairs and try to come up with your top three reasons to the following question:
– “As a professional group, why don’t primary care physicians submit case reports?”
Our survey says…
• Let’s hear what your reasons are…
• Don’t be shy now
I’ll let you see mine if you let me see yours…
• They do, just not in JMCR and Cases!
• My reasons fall into two overlapping groups:
– The culture of general practice / family medicine• Research is what ‘specialists’ do
– The perceived value of case reports• ‘There are only 24 hours in a day, so why should I bother to
spend my time writing up cases?’
Solutions?
• These are ‘big issues’ – not easy to change!
• Each person’s motives and reasons are going to be unique
• Maybe we have to give GPs/FPs reason why they should. Focus on what their needs might be? For example:– Educational value– Career progression– Job satisfaction– Help me out here…
Summary
• My perception is that GPs/FPs don’t submit case reports
• It’s probably because they can’t see why they should bother
• We need to give them reasons to the contrary
