What is a Practice-Based Research Network?
Practice-Based Research is a cutting-edge approach to conducting research, the clinician's practice serves as the laboratory and questions are developed by the providers
Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs) are groups of ambulatory practices devoted principally to the primary care of patients and affiliated in their mission to investigate questions related to community-based practice and improvement of the quality of primary care (AHRQ). This definition includes a sense of ongoing commitment to network activities and an organizational structure that transcends a single research project. PBRNs often link practicing clinicians with investigators experienced in clinical and health services research while at the same time enhancing the research skills of the network members.
PBRNs are widely valued for their access to the full range of patient populations needed for clinical and translational research studies and for their ability to bring the community practice and patient voice to the clinical research enterprise. Increasingly, PBRNs are gaining even greater relevance and grounding with community members in their steering committees.
The Practice-Based Research Network Shared Resource at Case Western Reserve University is a core facility of the Cleveland Clinical and Translational Science Collaboration and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. The goals of the core facility are to develop and sustain PBRNs that engage in clinical research, to expand local and regional PBRNs, build translational linkages for PBRNs, develop methods and supportive technologies for clinical and translational research and advance new knowledge to the front lines of clinical practice.
In practice-based research, the clinician’s practice serves as the laboratory and research questions are developed by providers in order to ensure successful collaboration. Partnerships develop between clinicians and researchers, thereby paving the way for enhanced practice outcomes and continuous quality improvement. |
