Chronology of The RCGP by Subject

Research

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21 January 1953
 
 Research Committee formed.
The founders of the college wanted it to encourage, guide and co-ordinate research into the problems of general practice. The college was to be a centre for family doctors to pool knowledge and experience. Advertisements were placed in the BMJ and The Lancet asking for those who were interested in research to place their name on the college’s research register. A research advisory panel was formed to co-ordinate research and give advice and guidance. Early topics to be investigated were "value of the use of sulphonamides and antibiotics in the prevention of the complications of measles" and " a collection of morbidity statistics."
 

April 1953

 

Research Newsletter launched. It proposed the establishment of research fellowships and prizes. Originally it was distributed only to members of the research register and aimed to keep members in touch with the with the activities of the Research Committee. By 1956 it was being published quarterly and was made available to the general public at a cost of 3s 6d per copy but was free to College members. It was later split into two publications - The Journal of the College of General Practitioners [later BJGP] and Between Ourselves.

 

1954
 
Epidemic observation unit founded in Surrey by G I Watson. It had close links with the Public Health Laboratory Service and the Medical Research Unit. The Unit operated a warning card system whereby members of the research register would notify the unit of any localised epidemic or a particular illness with details of the presenting symptoms. All members in the locality would then would then be sent a yellow card to notify the unit of similar cases. A purple or red warning card might be sent to all members of the register if there was a high incidence of a particular disease.
 
 
1954
 
 
Research study groups formed including respiratory tract diseases; hereditary diseases; ear, nose and throat; psychosomatic diseases and asthma in children.
 
1955
 
First morbidity survey.
Plans for the collection of national morbidity statistics in general practice were initiated in 1953 and involved discussions with the Registrar General's Department and the Chief Medical Statistician. A questionnaire to identify practice profile was prepared and record cards designed. A pilot was undertaken in February 1955 and the project started on 1st May 1955 with 108 practices covering a population of 400,000. Material was coded according to the International Classification of Diseases and analysed by the Registrar General's Department.
1956
 
The Complications of Measles investigation reported. This study had lasted two years and involved 130 members of the research register. The Lancet commented "This is a venture to be warmly welcomed; for it should provide information about a group of patients not available for study by hospital research teams. If the type of work is new, so are the difficulties facing those who undertake it and the report makes this clear." (Lancet, 1956, 2, 345).
 
1956
 
Acute chest infections study group reports [BMJ 1956, I, 1516].
 
1956
 
Chronic bronchitis study group formed.
 
1956
 
Epilepsy study started.
 
1956
 
Midlands faculty carry out research into the use of vitamin b12 to treat herpes zosta.
 
1956
 
Questionnaire on incidents of pink disease published in research newsletter.
 
 
1956
 
South West England faculty research into daffodil dermatitis.
 
1956
 
The Epidemic Observation Unit reported on an outbreak of 200 cases in Lowestoft of an illness characterised by pyrexia, headache, neck rigidity and vomiting.
 

May 1956

 

Between Ourselves launched as an alternative to the Newsletter. It was produced by members of the Research Committee and circulated to members of the Research Register. It included current research, in-house reports on research not suitable for inclusion in the Newsletter.

 

1957
 
South West faculty carry out obstetric survey.
 
 
1957
 
Working party of the Research committee formed to plan a study of the incidence of diabetes mellitus in the community.
 
 
1957
 
Scottish council start a maternity services enquiry.
 
Feb 1958
 
Research Newsletter becomes Journal of the College of General Practitioners.
23 Nov 1958
 
Conference on Dyspepsia.
 
1958
 
 
Retirement study into rates of morbidity experienced after retirement.
 
 
1958
 
 
Commencement of studies into farmers lung and hypertension.
 
1958
 
 
Formation of cancer study group.
 
 
1958
 
 
Report in financing of general practice research.
 
 
1959
 
 
Drug addiction working party.
 

1959

 

College Classification of Diseases published for continuous recording of morbidity statistics.

1960
 
Migraine study
 
1960
 
Glaucoma survey
 
1960
 
Study group on alcoholism
 
1960
 
Survey of clinical forensic medicine
 
1961
 
Chronic bronchitis working party reconstituted.
 
1961
 
Rubella among family contacts survey
 
1962
 
Formation of Research Foundation Board (later Sicentific Foundation Board) to help finance general practitioner research.
 
1962
 
Records and statistical unit for continuous morbidity recording in general practice and the provision of statistical advice to members established in Birmingham. It was run by D L Crombie with a statistical advisor [K W Cross], a full time statistician, an assistant and a secretary. Illnesses were recorded in "E" books. The unit initiated a method of studying the prevalence of communicable and certain respiratory diseases by means of a weekly returns from the observer group. [Birmingham Research Unit Archives]
 
1963
 
Publication of "A guide to research in General Practice"
 
1963
 
Toxic reaction register
 
1963
 
Amended classification of disease published [JCGP 1963, 6, 204].
 
 
1963
 
Establishment of research advisory service
1963
 
Measles vaccine trial
 
1964
 
 
Tamar Valley soil study
 
1964
 
Survey on the "Outcome of Pregnancy" to correlate the various aspects of the environment of mothers in early pregnancy.
 
 
1965
 
Cystic fibrosis survey
 
 
1965
 
Oral contraception working party.
 
 
1965
 
Epsom College schoolchildren survey.
 
 
1965
 
Mental illness survey
 
 
27 July
1966
 
Conference on "Oral contraception".
 
 
1966
 
Survey of medical centres. "The advent of medical centres appears to have made it easier for general practitioners to make fuller use of their local hospital and its various departments.
 
1966
 
 
Formation of Research department. "The maintenance of high standards of research recording in general practice has never been so difficult. There are now fewer doctors in practice and their capacity to meet the needs of their patients is severely strained. Research work must never be undertaken at the expense of patient care and is an addition to the practitioner’s heavy load. If standards are to be maintained every possible step must be taken to lighten the extra commitments that so many general practitioners now voluntarily assume."
 
1966
 
Epidemic observation unit inquiry into reactions to measles vaccines
 
1966
 
Epidemic observation unit inquiry into febrile convulsions
 
1966
 
Epidemic observation unit inquiry into intra-uterine rubella
 
1966
 
Completion of air pollution study
 
 
1966
 
Completion of multiple sclerosis study
 
 
1966
 
Completion of roadside lead health study
 
1966
 
Surname study (S.W. England/Eire/Newfoundland) to study morbidity patterns with families of same name.
 
1966
 
South East faculty complete hernia study
 
1966
 
Research and education advisory service working party.
 
1966
 
Congenital abnormalities survey.
 
1966
 
Recording systems working party – to consider the principles of record systems for medical care in relation to advances in data handling.
 
1966
 
Nutrition in pregnancy survey.
 
1967
 
Formation of Welsh soils discussion group
 
1967
 
Completion of oral contraceptives and venous thrombosis study.
 
1968
 
Scottish conference on "Morbidity recording".
1968
 
Manchester research unit established.
 
1969
 
Course "Research methods in general practice".
1969
 
Practice characteristics study
 
1969
 
The use of ancillaries study
 
1969
 
Outcome of laryngectomy study
 
 
1969
 
Academic review working party. This was a wide reaching committee which looked at what the College had achieved in the areas of examination, education and research, publications, relationships with other bodies and looked at when was going to be the changes and priorities for the next ten years. This resulted in "Present State and Future Needs" published in 1970.
 
 
1969
 
Sixteenth James Mackenzie lecture by Dr G K Hodgkin entitled "Behaviour – the community and the GP". "’We in our college have gradually gained our confidence and medical recognition by first defining and then preaching that general practice is an academic discipline in its own right. But if the academic status of general practice is to rise, it is necessary to develop an active area of research in a field unique to general practice; to be fully effective this unique field must have wide spread interest and application. It is my thesis that the study of human behaviour provides the general practitioner with just such a unique and interesting field of research."

1970

 

Second National Morbidity Survey starts with 57 practices covering a population of 300,000.

 

1970
 
Completion of schizophrenia study
 
1971
 
Scottish general practice research unit formed.
 
1972
 
Urban mineralisation study
 
1972
 
Viral diseases in pregnancy study
 
1972
 
Medical education research unit
 
1972
 
Obstetric working party
 
1972
 
Meldon reservoir study completed.
 
1972
 
Research register discontinued
 
1972
 
Study by Scottish general practitioners research support unit "The effect of the first health centre in Dundee on patterns of medical care.".
1973
 
Research advisor asked to convene new research committee of WONCA
 
1973
 
Publication of second edition of "Glossary of terms and definitions used in research in general practice."
 
1973
 
Study on the long term effects of influenza
1973
 
Pilot trials for proposed abortion study
 
1974
 
Interim report of the oral contraception study
1974
 
First report of second morbidity study published
 
1974
 
Tonsillectomy study
 
1974
 
Bereavement study
 
1974
 
Genetic markers study
 
1974
 
Publication of oral contraceptives and health
1974
 
Beckwith-Smith fellowship "part time research fellowship for an Epidemiology study of local and general features in the environment study of local and general features in the environment which are thought to influence the personal health of patients."
 
1975
 
Publication of first issue of "Research Intelligence"
1975
 
Epidemic Observation Unit established by Dr Grob at the University of Surrey.
 
1975
 
Swansea research unit established.
 
1976
 
Research and practice organisation committee create liaison group on primary care.
 
1976
 
Manchester Research Unit start study on HRT
 
1976
 
Scottish General Practice research unit publish"Fatal Illness in general practice" and "Monitoring communicable disease – a general practice approach"
 
1976
 
Scientific Foundation Board created out of Education and Research boards
 
1977
 
Publication of "Trends in National Morbidity"
 
1977
 
Separation of research from practice organisation committee and creation of research division executive
1977
 
Whooping cough study
 
1977
 
Backache study
 
1978
 
Home visiting study
 
1978
 
Completion of Swansea joint RCGP/PHLS study "Long term study of influenza in families"
 
1978
 
Completion of Swansea joint RCGP/MRC "Study of aspirin in the prevention of myocardial infarction"
1978
 
Completion of Swansea joint RCGP/Department of Medical Sociology "Study of doctors and their staff"

1978

 

Leigh Clinical Research Unit became a College unit. It was based at the practice of Maurice Stone, working in Leigh, near Wigan in Lancashire. The emphasis of the work was on analysing the risk factors for coronary heart disease and was based on the Stones own list of 2,700 patients. Stone showed that fibrogen was a major risk factor for heart disease. Stone died in 1988 before he was really able to develop his ideas further.

 

1980
 
Medical Surveillance Centre established "to offer advice to general practitioners wishing to engage in clinical trials and will offer specific projects to groups of general practitioners, to university departments or to its own research units."
 
1981
 
Third morbidity survey starts covering 1981-2 (reports Oct 1986)
 
1982
 
Publication of Ian Watson’s "Epidemiology and Research in A General Practice."
 
 
1982
 
End of recording for the third National Morbidity Survey.
 
1982
 
Research into use of electronic communications using British Telecom’s prestel. Fifty training practices were given a prestel link and acted as a test group for pilot studies into reporting of adverse drug reactions, the poisons register and morbidity and current research abstracts.
[Prestel was a dial-up service using a modem and a modified television set to view pages of text (and some pictures) rather like today's Teletext. However, Prestel was an interactive service, and was in essence an early form of Internet/ e-mail. ]
 
1982
 
Opening of new premises, by HRH Duke of Kent, of the Epidemic observation unit at the University of Surrey.
 
1982
 
Start of Swansea Research "Study of the respiratory sequelae of whooping cough".
1983
 
Joint working party with Arthritis and Rheumatism Council to explore joint areas of research and education.
 
 
1983
 
Enuresis study
1985
 
Scottish General Practice Research Support Unit becomes independent of the College.
 
1986   Morbidity Statistics from General Practice 1981-82 (Third Morbity Study) published
1986   Publication of Tamar Faculty research report "Recording Blood Pressue and Smoking Habits in Devon and Cornwall"

1986

 

Scottish Research Advisory Committee - to provide advice for Scottish general practitioners who wish to initiate a research project.

 

1987   Appointment of Research Fellowships to Morris Gallagher (AIDS), Stephen Iliffe (mental heatlh of carers) and Aly Rashid (ethnic minorities in Leicester)

1988

 

Committee on Medical Ethics report on research use of fetuses

 

1988

 

Closure of Swansea Research Unit

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division report evaluation of proposed research during pregnancy and childbirth

 

1989   Near Patient Testing Working party convened. There was a concern expressed by the medicla profession at the change in emphasis from traditional laboratoy testing to the more cost effective testing at the patient's side or near patient testing. see 1992 for report.

1989

 

Clinical and research division report on care of diabetes - open access diabetic centres

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division report on possible zinc deficiency disorder

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on National pro forma of the elderly

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on urine collecting bags for infants

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on cardiopulmonary resuscitation

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on fractured neck of femur

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on The Eurobarometer study and the Europe Against Cancer Initiative

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on the usage of audiometers

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on the law on infectious disease control

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on diagnostic codes

 

1989

 

Study day on coronary heart disease

 

 

1989

 

Clinical and research division paper on haemoglobinopathy

 

 

1989

 

Terminal Care Working Party Report

 

 

1989

 

Closure of Leigh Clinical Research Unit

 

1989-90   Research Task Force formed
May 1990   Report of working party into HIV research

 

1990

 

 

Attitudes to Pregnancy  study published [Manchester Research Unit]

 

June 1991   "Research - A Development Plan for the 1990's"  Geoffrey Rose appointed National Research Adviser (suceeded 1993 by Paul Freeling); A P Hungin Appointed Regional Research Fellow

 

1991

 

 

Manchester Research Unit start myorcardial research study

 

1991   Data gathering starts for fourth Morbidity Statistics Survey
Dec 1991   Scottish Council in conjuntion with Cancer Relief MacMillan Fund and Clinical Resource, and the Audit Group of the Scottish Office appoint Dr David Millar and David Carroll to run Scottish Palliative Care Facilitators Project

 

November

1992

 

 

"New Horizons"conference held at Regents College - topics included seamless care, complementary medicine, research in general practice, nurse practitioners, stress and prevention of coronary heart disease. This was the largest ever primary care research meeting to be held in the UK with over 300 participants.

 

1992   Report of the Near Patient Testing Working Party
1992  
"Research In General Practice: A Policy Statement"  and "Research in General Practice - A Policy for the 90's" [Clinical and Research Division Policy papers]

 

1992

 

 

HIV/Aids  working party set up to development clinical information book for general practitioners

 

1992

 

Appointment of Faculty Research Facilitator [Anthony Evans, South West Wales Faculty]

 

1993

 

Manchester Research Unit Asthma study

 

1993

 

Publication of a General Practice database to Pharmaco Epidemiology [Occasional Paper 62] by the Birmingham Research Unit. This paper discusses how to capture morbidity and prescribing data in order to investigate post marketing surveillance.

 

1993

 

European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC)

 

1993

 

Manchester Research Unit moved to Parkway House

 

March

1993

 

Council restructured to form four networks, Quality, Services, Education and Research.

 

1993

 

Paul Freeling appointed National Research Advisor

 

1993

 

Dr Pali Hungin (Regional Research Fellow) established the Northern Research Network - a co-operative for practice  based researchers in the region

 

1994

 

Research Coordinating Group

 

1994   Publication of "A History of Research in General Practice in Wales 1952-1992" by R C Humphries published by Welsh Council

1994

 

Evidence to House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technologyon medical research and the NHS Reforms - the evidence recommended that general practice should receive highest priority of research development, NHS should fund research training fellowships for general practice trainees in each region, NHS funding research training places for established GP principals, NHS-funded research general practices should be established in all regions, that Chairs in General Practice should be established at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities

 

March

1994

 

Epidemiology in Country Practice by William Pickles, first published in 1939 was re-printed by College.

 

June 1994

 

Research and General Practice published jointly with COAGP [Conference of Academic Organisations in General Practice]

 

September 1994

 

Retirement of Clifford Kay from Manchester Research Unit, succeeded by Philip Hannaford

 

Sep 1994  

Research General Practices awarded to Jim Cox (Cumbria Faculty) and Andrew Farmer (Thames Valley Faculty)

 

September 1994

  Jonathan Graffy and John Middleton awarded Research Training Fellowships

 

1995

 

 

First RCGP/BUPA Joint Research Training Fellowship awarded to Dr Robert Walton for research into the development of a computer system for giving advice on prescribing drugs.

 

1995
 
Fourth morbidity survey published. The survey was based upon 468000 person years at risk and involved 241 general practitioners principals working in 60 practices.
 

Dec 1996

 

Boots Research Paper of the Year Prize launched

 

 

July 1997

 

 

Re-opening of refurbished Birmingham Research Unit

 

28 Nov

1997

 

Joint RCGP/AUDGP [Association of University Departments of General Practice] Seminar on Research & Development in the NHS: Assessing Culyer Funding for Primary Care R & D.

 

1998

 

Research Intelligence database of current research in primary care

 

1998

 

Obesity Steering Group set up to develop a protocol for a study to determine the practicalities of implementing obesity guidelines in primary care. It is a collaborative effort between the College and the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, together with representatives from the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Nursing, the National Primary Care Facilitation Programme.

 

13 Nov

1998

 

An Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Professionals - Research Master Class

16 June 1999  

Academic Career Pathways in General Practice and Primary Care Seminar organised by Research Group

 

22 June 1999  

"Shaping the Future: A Primary Care Research Strategy for Scotland" dawn up by Scottish Academic Forum of General Practice

7th October 1999

 

Patient Participant Ethical Considerations in Primary Care Research Conference

2000

 

Research group red and white booklet published "Undertaking Higher Research Degrees: Some Practical Guidance"

 

16th Feb

2000

 

Research Master class 7: Issues in Primary Care Epidemiology

5th April

2000

 

Assessment of Primary Care Research: Past, Present and Future conference

 

10th May 2000   Health Informatics and Primary Care Research conference

June 2000

 

"Randomised Controlled Trials and Multi- Centre- Research" ; “The Use and Design of Questionnaires” and Statistical Concepts” Research masterclass workbooks published.

 

21st June 2000

 

Research Group Conference "2000 and On Funding for Primary Care R & D and the Primary Care Research Agenda for the Future"

 

October 2000

 

"Statistical Concepts"a research master class workbook published. This book won a commended prize in the BMA Medical Book of the year competition.

 

April 2001

 

Centre for Primary Care Research and Epidemiology based at Aberdeen University  (formally Manchester Research Unit) renamed RCGP Primary Care Databases for Primary Care Epidemiology at the University of Aberdeen

 

June 2001

 

Research Group Conference on Research into Inequalities in Healthcare

 

Sep 2001

 

Launch of pilot project and CD-Rom of Computer Assisted Learning [CAL] for Primary Care Research.

The aims of the project were to  provide a training and educational resource for primary care researchers; develop a comprehensive course focusing both on understanding and doing research and to utilise new technologies to develop an accessible, easy-to-use product.  The material contained on the pilot CD Rom was based on the content of the RCGP Research Group’s Master Class on Randomised Controlled Trials and Multi-Centre Research of June 2000

 

2002

 

Publication of Primary Care Research Team Assessment (PCRTA) - development and evaluation [Occasional Paper No. 81] by Yvonne Carter, Sara Shaw, Fraser Macfarlane  

 

21 May 2002  
RCGP Research Symposium Primary Care R & D for the Twenty First Century - Looking to the Future (includes Resaerch paper of the Year)
 
16 Jul 2002   New Master Class in Primary Care Research Workbook “Health Informatics”

Oct 2002

 

Publication of  "Evidence into Action: Changing Practice in Primary Care" by Jane Hughes, Charlotte Humphrey, Stephen Rogers, Trisha Greenhalgh  [Occasional Paper 84]  This paper described a group of five projects aimed at promoting the use of research evidence in primary care, which were established in the late 1990s. Each project was intended to develop, introduce and evaluate a different approach to facilitating better use of evidence within a primary care setting.

 

11 June 2003  
RCGP Research Group: Research Paper of the Year Seminar "The Third Dimension: towards best practice in user involvement in primary care research"
Winners  Francesco Cappuccio, Pippa Oakshott, Pasquale Strazzullo and Sally Kelly "Applicaiton of Framingham risk estimates to ethnic minorities in the UK and implications for primary prevention of heart disease in general practice: cross sectional population based study"
 
23 March 2004  

Clinical Research in 2004 ... Are You Ready? joint conference with ICR

 

25 May 2004  
RCGP Research Group: Research Paper of the Year Seminar "Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice"
 
April 2005  

RCGP Curriculum Statement 3.6 Research and Academic Activity [updated Feb 2006] by Dr Steve Ball, Professor Nigel Mathers, Professor Steve Field and Professor Pat Lane

 

19 May 2005  
RCGP Research Group: Research Paper of the Year Seminar "Primary Care Research: Its Place in the Future"

 

Oct 2005

 

 

Publication of Masterclasses in Primary Care Research Workbook 9 Health Economics

 

June 2006   10th Anniversary Research Paper of the Year Awards to

Rose P, Harnden A, Brueggermann A, Perera R, Sheikh A, Crook D and Mant D.  “Chloramphenicol treatment for acute infective conjunctivitis in children in primary care: a randomised double-blind placebo controlled-trial”.  Lancet, July 2005.

Lester H, Tritter J and Sorohan H.  “Patients’ and health professionals’ views on primary care for people with serious mental illness: focus group study.  British Medical Journal, April 2005.

Sep 2006   Inaugural Discovery Prize awarded to Julian Tudor Hart
Oct 2007  

Launch of Clinical Innovation and Research Centre [CIRC]


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