Research in primary care
Our mission is to ensure primary care guidelines are also based on patients from primary care. To bridge the differences between uniform patient populations studied, and the diverse patients in primary care, GPRI facilitates research in, among others, general practices and pharmacies.
GPRI is initiated by two general practitioners and one health economist, all with a passion for scientific research in primary care. In new studies, we always evaluate its potential to improve current guidelines. We then investigate the potential approach of the study and how to make it as pragmatic and accessible as possible.
Because multiple general practices, pharmacies, or other study locations are needed to perform a study in primary care, execution requires an extensive organization process. GPRI functions as a collecting point where practices from primary care can connect as part of scientific research. GPRI functions across national borders having established a global collaboration within primary care.
The circle is complete when a study is finished and outcomes are published, often in well-known scientific journals. After publication we aim to integrate new knowledge in guidelines for primary care. Our current publications can be found here.
What kind of research do we perform?
GPRI facilitates different types of research.
- In observational studies, no intervention or treatment is investigated but patients are observed. An example of one of the completed observational studies is the PIFotal COPD study in which inhalation technique and inhalation flow were assessed.
- In interventional studies, also known as clinical studies, the effect of treatment or a medical intervention in patients is investigated. By comparing two groups of patients with each other – the intervention group and the control group – we can assess whether the intervention group exhibits the desired effect. An example of this is the ACCEPTANCE study in which half of the participants are given a smart inhaler to determine if this improves the treatment and reduces asthma symptoms.
- Questionnaires are frequently used for diagnosis. We develop and validate questionnaires to assess whether they can be properly applied in the field. We are for example working on the SADT project for which we develop a questionnaire on small airway disfunction.
- In database studies, we analyze existing data sets to arrive at new insights.
Our focus
GPRI primarily focuses on chronic medical conditions. Someone with a chronic medical condition has suffered from the same condition for a long time and the condition cannot be cured with drugs. Currently we are working on research on Asthma, COPD, cardiovascular diseases, urinary tract disease, diabetes and chronic pain.
Independent Research
The research GPRI conducts originates in a number of ways. Many of the research questions come from daily practice. General practitioners share common questions from daily practice with GPRI, which we then translate into scientific topics. Another part of the research questions are so-called follow-up questions, where a new research question emerges from a completed study. The funding partners of these studies are carefully selected by GPRI. GPRI is transparent about this funding and clear agreements are made with funding partners. This allows GPRI to stay true to its goal of improving the guidelines of healthcare.
Finally, there are pharmaceutical companies that would like to work with us to conduct scientific research within primary care. With these innovation funds, the scientific research can be financed. This results in approximately 2/3rds of all research conducted by GPRI.
Current
ACCEPTANCE
Smart inhaler for treatment of asthmaIndication
Asthma that is being treated with Symbicort Turbuhaler as maintenance treatments.
Study type
Cluster randomised trial.
Target audience
Patients of 18 years and older, general practitioners and practice nurses.
Additional information
Visit www.acceptance-onderzoek.nl for additional information on this study, contact details and possibilities to enroll.
Breathlessness Diagnosis in a Box (BiaB)
Working towards faster diagnostics for breathlessnessIndication
A new approach on breathlessness in primary care practices for the purpose of diagnosing its cause. Furthermore, providing insight in the experiences with using “BiaB” through qualitatieve structured interviews
Study type
Quality Improvement Project
Target audience
Healthcare providers, patients
Additional information
Contact us for additional information via breathlessness@gpri.nl
CARINA
Optimal therapy and use of biologics in COPDIndication
Perceptions and experiences of people with COPD on optimal therapy and possible future use of biologics (such as injections)
Type of study
Qualitative study (interviews)
Target audience
Patients, general practitioners and practice nurses
Additional information
Contact us via carina@gpri.nl for more information about this study.
CodeX Asthma
Identifying missed asthma exacerbations in primary careIndication
Besides identifying the number of exacerbations, we want to identify at-risk patients in order to aid healthcare professionals.
Study type
Retrospective cross-sectional real-life database study and qualitative semi-structured interviews.
Target audience
General practitioners.
Additional information
Contact us for additional information on this study and publications.
COPD comorbidities
Identification of medication-comorbidities clashesIndication
COPD or lung emphysema with 1 or more comorbidities.
Study type
Pragmatic cluster randomised trial.
Target audience
General practitioners and practice nurses.
Additional information
Visit www.gpri.nl/desktophelper for additional information, contact details and possibilities to enroll.
Crescendo
A tablet as an experimental treatment for COPDIndication
Patients with confirmed moderate to severe symptomatic COPD who are at high risk of exacerbations despite being maintained on optimised standard of care inhaled therapies.
Study type
A phase IIA randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.
Target audience
Primary care practices or pharmacies that could help us selecting potential participants.
Additional information
Contact us via crescendo@gpri.nl for more information about this study.
Participant Experience Interview (PEI)
Patient experience with clinical trialsAim
To learn more about the perceptions and experiences of participants regarding their participation in clinical research.
Study type
Qualitative substudy in the CRESCENDO study.
Target audience
Participants that are part of CRESCENDO who have been using all platforms and devices during their enrolment in the study
Additional information
Contact us via pei@gpri.nl for more information about this study.
Q-SAW Asthma & COPD
Impact of asthma en COPDIndication
Perceptions and experiences of people with asthma or COPD on the impact hereof on their daily lifes.
Type of study
Qualitative study (interviews)
Target audience
Patients, general practitioners and research nurses.
Additional information
Contact us via copdimpact@gpri.nl or asthmaimpact@gpri.nl for more information about this study.
SALINE
Early identification of chronic kidney diseaseIndication
Early identification of chronic kidney disease.
Study type
Cross-sectional observational study.
Target audience
Pharmacists and general practitioners.
Additional information
Visit www.gpri.nl/saline for additional information on this study, contact details and possibilities to enlist.
TRACkER
Triple therapy for patients with COPDIndication
Symptomatic COPD.
Study type
Randomised real-life study.
Target audience
Lung physicians, general practitioners, practice nurses and COPD patients of 40 years and older.
Additional information
Visit www.trackerstudie.nl for additional information on this study, contact details and possibilities to enroll.
Treatable Traits
Retrospective research into personalised treatment of COPDIndication
Prevalence, overlap, and stability of six “treatable traits” in people with COPD.
Study type
Retrospective data analysis
Target audience
Healthcare providers
Additional information
Contact us for additional information via treatabletraits@gpri.nl
Valneva booster vaccine
Valneva candidate booster vaccine against COVID-19Indication
In this study we assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the Valneva booster vaccine candidate.
Study type
Open-label phase 3 clinical research.
Target audience
Adults who have had an infection with COVID-19 in the past 6 to 12 months and have not been vaccinated, or adults who have had two vaccinations with an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) but have not yet received a booster.
Additional information
Contact us for additional information on this study.
Finished
CAPTURE
Use of the Asthma Optimiser tool in primary careIndication
Insufficiently controlled asthma in primary care.
Study type
Prospective observational study and qualitative semi-structured interviews.
Target audience
General practitioners and practice nurses.
Additional information
Visit www.gpri.nl/capture for additional information on this study, contact details and publication of our findings.
CCQ Graphical
Validation of graphical CCQ questionnaireIndication
Stable COPD.
Study type
Healthcare improvement project with qualitative structured interviews.
Target audience
Patients of 40 years and older.
Additional information
Contact us for additional information on this study.
CodeX COPD
Identifying missed COPD exacerbations in primary careIndication
Exacerbations in patients with COPD.
Study type
Retrospective cross-sectional real-life database study and qualitative semi-structured interviews.
Target audience
General practitioners.
Additional information
Contact us for additional information on this study and publications or watch our animation.
COPPER
COVID-19 in primary careIndication
Moderate severe COVID-19.
Study type
Randomised interventional open-label study.
Target audience
General practitioners of the HZD in Drenthe, The Netherlands.
Additional information
Contact us for more information on this study.
MISMATCH
Inhalation technique in COPD patients using different inhalersIndication
Inhalation technique in COPD patients with different types of inhalers (Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhalers (pMDIs) and Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs)).
Study type
Retrospective data analysis
Target audience
Healthcare providers
Additional information
Contact us for additional information via mismatch@gpri.nl.
PIFotal
Optimizing inhalation therapy in COPD patientsIndication
COPD which is being treated with dry powder inhalers as maintenance treatment.
Study type
Cross-sectional, non-interventional multi-center, multi-country study.
Target audience
Pharmacies, general practitioners and practice nurses.
Additional information
Visit www.pifotal.com for additional information on this study, publications and contact details.
POSSIBILITY
Perceptions on self-administration injections of biologicalsIndication
Asthma that is being treated or will be treated with biologicals.
Study type
Qualitative multi-country study with focus groups and semi-structured interviews.
Target audience
Patients, lung physicians and nurses.
Additional information
Contact us for additional information on this study. The publication of our findings is expected soon.
PRIME COPD
Profiling inhalation medication in COPDIndication
COPD
Study type
Retrospective cross-sectional real-life database study.
Target audience
None, this was a database study.
Additional information
Contact us for additional information on this study and our findings.
SADT development
Small Airways Dysfunction ToolIndication
Small airways dysfunction.
Study type
Questionnaire development.
Additional information
Contact us for additional information on this study and publications.
SADT translations
SADT linguistic validationIndication
Small airway disfunction
Study type
Questionnaire linguistic validation (for 13 languages)
Target audience
Healthcare providers
Additional information
Contact us for additional information on this study and publications
Spiro@Home
Spirometry measurements at homeIndication
Asthma and COPD for which spirometry by the general practitioner is indicated.
Study type
Prospective implementation study with semi-structured interviews.
Target audience
General practitioners and research nurses.
Additional information
Visit www.gpri.nl/spiro-home for addition information on this study.
