Abstract

ABREU, Joana; REIS, Patrícia; CARDOSO, Sara  and  REIS, Soraia. Research on the field of family medicine in portugal: preferred areas of investigation and gaps. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2020, vol.36, n.5, pp.408-414. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v36i5.12686.

Introduction and objective(s): The scientific production in the medical field is a sign of vitality and self-reflection essential to any scientific discipline. This study aims to describe the original research carried out by family doctors (FD), specialists, or interns, published in the Acta Médica Portuguesa (AMP), Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar (RPMGF), and in the APMGF National Congress and National Meeting abstract books. Methods: All original research, quality improvement studies completed by FD specialists or interns published between January 2014 and 31 October 2018 in the RPMGF and AMP, and all abstracts published in the summaries of the APMGF National Congress and Meetings from 2015 to 2018. Researchers' characteristics, the place where the study was conducted, the number of subjects included were identified, the area of research was categorized into major thematic areas (following the European-EGPRN research agenda) and diseases (accordingly to ICPC-2). Results: 587 references were analyzed, of which 283 were included for meeting the eligibility criteria. FD interns where authors/co-authors in 82.6% of cases and specialists in 71.8% of cases. There is an author in the medical academy in 18.2% of the studies. Almost all studies are quantitative (n=274) and observational (n=216). Most studies collected population data from one or two health facilities (n=153), the minimum number of participants was 23 in one oral communication, and the maximum of 12,467.427 in an AMP study. Thematic areas related to primary care management (n=108) and specific problem-solving skills (n=161) are the most frequent. The main health problems studied belong to ICPC-2 chapters A, T, P, and K. Noteworthy no study addressed the ‘Community orientation’ or ‘Holistic approach’ in MGF specialty. Discussion: The results found are similar to those described in other Portuguese and international studies. It will be important to rethink the role of the biopsychosocial aspect in the specialty of MGF and what paths may lead us to answer questions on these issues. This article may facilitate the structuring of a research agenda appropriate to the Portuguese PHC.

Keywords : Family practice; Research.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )