Eight institutes of general practice at the university sites of Düsseldorf, Bochum, Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Duisburg-Essen, Münster and Witten/Herdecke have collaborated to create the North-Rhine Westphalian General Practice Research Network consisting of 520 GP practices. Planned research projects include a cluster-randomized controlled trial on nicotine replacement therapy and a study evaluating a new healthcare model (P-SUP – A personalized self-management support program for diabetes mellitus type 2 and coronary heart disease).
Structural features/ Cooperation agreements
Healthcare infrastructure IT solutions (HITS, Aachen University Hospital; Adaptation of the architecture of the DIZ Data Integration Center and the SP Service Platform to suit family medicine research needs; Connect to SMITH Smart Medical Information Technology for Healthcare platform)
Study on Biometry German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Cooperation with KKS Coordination Centers for Clinical Studies at all sites
eLearning Set up an ILIAS learning management system platform to share information and to qualify research practices
Participation of regional site stakeholders
(physicians, healthcare assistants, citizens, network meetings, patient groups)
Consultations between international and national advisory board and medical professionals, patient representatives, experts from family medicine and science
Physician organizations Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in North Rhine and Westphalia-Lippe, Associations of General Practitioners in North Rhine and Westphalia-Lippe
Pilot projects
Pilot study Cluster-randomized controlled clinical study on the effectiveness of cost reimbursement of nicotine replacement therapies offered in brief consultations in the family practice
Qualitative and quantitative surveys of family practitioners’ and healthcare assistants’ attitudes and ideas concerning research and science
Evaluation of IT solutions