The Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care: Implications for developing research in primary care

Abstract

The Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care is a framework of responsibilities and quality checks formulated by the English Department of Health for researchers and others. Primary care trusts were required to comply with the RGF by April 1, 2003. Implementing research governance within primary care trusts includes establishing systems for being notified of any research activity, peer review and scientific support.

This paper discusses findings arising from research commissioned in south London in 2003 by one of the national pilot sites for research governance in primary care. Data were gathered by means of telephone interviews with 23 experienced academics within the four south London higher education institutions included in the project. In particular, the paper explores issues concerning the effects of the research government framework on student projects, and the implications of these for the development of research capacity in primary care.

A key message from this paper is that primary care research is still quite fragile, and that a heavy-handed introduction of research governance may deter neophytes and hamper research capacity-building. In particular, the withdrawal of higher education institutions from requiring primary datagathering for MScs because of the increasing hurdles of bureaucracy could make it more difficult for experienced practitioners to develop research skills.