A conceptual model for capacity building in Australian primary health care research.

BACKGROUND Many general practitioners and primary health care practitioners lack research and evaluation skills. In response, the Australian Government has funded important capacity building initiatives. AIM To propose a conceptual model to assist these initiatives. MODEL Four groups of research involvement are suggested: nonparticipants; participating (as part of a research team); managing/training (either leading research, or in formal training to do so); and academic (with, or leading toward, a doctorate). We outline six guiding principles for research capacity building: 1) a whole system approach, 2) accommodating diversity, 3) reducing barriers to participation, 4) enabling collaboration, 5) mentoring, and 6) networking. CONCLUSION This model forms a framework to help plan and evaluate research capacity building initiatives.