RACGP
Australian Family Physician
Australian Family Physician

Advertising

Volume 40, Issue 1, January-February 2011

Communities of practice Quality improvement or research in general practice

Moyez Jiwa Wendy Chan She Ping-Delfos Jackie Ross Tim Shaw Parker J Magin
Download article
Cite this article    BIBTEX    REFER    RIS

Background
A ‘communities of practice’ (CoP) approach has the potential to address quality improvement issues and facilitate research in general practice by engaging those most intimately involved in delivering services – the health professionals.
Objective
This article outlines the CoP approach and discusses some of the challenges involved in using this approach to raise standards in general practice and how these challenges might be addressed.
Discussion
General practitioner insight needs to be harnessed in order to develop solutions that are conceived in, and informed by, clinical practice. A CoP approach provides control to the practitioners over selection of the most relevant research question and outcome measure. However, the method is challenging as it requires a focus that is suitable, that motivates the participants, and effective management strategies and resources to support the CoP.

Download the PDF for the full article.


Download article PDF

Advertising

Australian Family Physician RACGP

Printed from Australian Family Physician - https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2011/january-february/communities-of-practice
© The Australian College of General Practitioners www.racgp.org.au