Family Medicine Research: Implications for Wonca

The purpose of the article is to illustrate where in the lifelong curriculum of family medicine ought students, trainees, and family physicians learn about research in family medicine. The role of Wonca to promote this endeavor is discussed. I describe the recruitment and training programs for family physicians and state the implication for Wonca to promote family medicine research in the undergrad-uate curriculum, during residency, and in the graduate study programs for expe-rienced medical doctors. I describe the possible research fi elds in family medicine and the special methods that can be used to get reliable and valid answers to relevant questions in family medicine. It is time for Wonca to develop a policy for family medicine research by develop-ing a strategy to promote it. This can be done through a Wonca policy statement about family medicine research in the medical curriculum. Wonca can, in collabo-ration with national colleges, arrange workshops and master classes in research; create scholarships and fellowships for international family medicine researchers; infl uence journals and international bodies, such as the World Health Organiza-tion, governments, and colleges about the necessity of good family medical research; describe ethical guidelines for international primary care research; and create a number of databases for researchers to use. Ann Fam Med 2004;2(Suppl 2):S45-S49. DOI: 10.1370/afm.190