The following is a summary of “Primary Care Research Is Hard to Do During COVID-19: Challenges and Solutions” published in the November 2022 issue of Family Medicine by Holtrop et al.


Research in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult because primary care is already subject to a lot of stress, and these stresses have been compounded by the epidemic. As a result, primary care research is difficult to carry out. Investigators are aware of the difficulties that primary care faces and can empathize with their situation.

As a result of their participation in more than 15 distinct projects over the course of the pandemic, researchers were able to identify 3 significant challenges to the process of conducting research on primary care. These challenges are as follows: practice delivery trickle-down effects, limited and changing resources and procedures for research, and a generally tense atmosphere in US society over the course of the pandemic. With the aim that these may help them decide how to deal with the challenges revealed during their investigation, they provided some techniques, each informed by a series of questions. 

These questions were informed by the findings of their study. As a means of surviving these challenging situations and evolving as a result of them, study group encouraged maintaining a sense of normalcy and showing compassion for oneself. In addition, as the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 continue to evolve over time, they strongly advise people who provide funding to adopt study techniques that are both pragmatic and adaptable.

Source: annfammed.org/content/20/6/568

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