The Alberta Family Practice Research Network (AFPRN) provides the family physician with:

• The ability to participate in research projects that are relevant to primary care with the assurance that projects conducted through the network are sensitive to the needs of Family Physicians.

• The opportunity to work together reducing physician isolation and providing an opportunity to develop research skills and define “best practice” in primary care.

• Access to research expertise facilitating research to seek answers to the Network Physician’s questions.

Nearly all family physicians are asked to participate in research studies.  As a service to family physicians, the AFPRN Steering Committee reviews research projects to assess their relevance and determine if they are appropriate for family physicians to become involved in.  Family Physicians who participate in an AFPRN-approved project can be certain that:

• The project has been reviewed by your peers,

• The study is ethical and has ethical approval,

• The research is meaningful to family practice,

• The impact on your practice is assessed,

• You will be made aware of the research findings to improve your practice.

Benefits of AFPRN to Researchers
Researchers routinely approach family physicians to recruit patients into their projects.  AFPRN is a resource, which researchers can access if they wish to recruit family physicians and their patients into research projects. 

Using the AFPRN to recruit for your study will provide you with:

• Research results are disseminated to ACFP members to improve their practice of primary care thus the research results have a greater impact on primary care,
• Access to a large number of doctors and patients in a variety of settings (rural, urban, solo or group practices),
• Linkage of primary care questions to practical answers in primary care