Research and Teaching Profile of the Institute of Primary Medical Care, Medical Faculty of Hamburg University (January 2008)
Duties
The Institute was founded in 1993. The staff consists of 25 scientists (14 FTE) and 5 non scientific personnel (3 FTE), coming from medicine, sociology, health sciences, nursing, psychology and statistics. The duties of the Institute lay in research, undergraduate and post-graduate teaching.
Research
The areas of research are the following:
- Cognitive impairment and dementia
- Chronic diseases and multimorbidity
- Health services evaluation
- Professions in healthcare
Cognitive impairment and dementia
Since 2002, the Institute is a member of the German National Competence Network on Degenerative Dementia, a network of excellence funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The director of the Institute is a member of the Board of the Competence Network. The research of the Institute encompasses the following areas:
- A 12 years cohort observational study on cognitive development and conversion to MCI and dementia in the general practice population ("early detection study"); the national coordination of this multicentre study is carried out by the Institute.
- Studies on the quality of ambulatory care of patients with dementia, especially concerning differences in approach between GPs and specialists
- A study on the healthcare utilization and costs of cognitive impairment and dementia in the German Sickness Insurance Funds.
- Studies on the prescription patterns of antidementia drugs in Germany.
- Reviews of the methodological quality of RCTs on Acetylcholinesteraseinhibitors in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
- Development and evaluation of a training programme aiming at destigmatisation of cognitive impairment and dementia for nurses and GPs.
- Development of an evidence based e-learning platform ("toolbox") for professionals dealing with cognitive impairment and dementia.
Chronic diseases and multimorbidity
The second large area of research is related to chronic disease and multimorbidity. The following projects are actually carried out:
- A 12 years cohort observational study on the development of multimorbidity in the general practice population: the national coordination of this multicentre study (7 metropolitan areas) is carried out by the Institute.
- A study on the healthcare utilization and costs of multimorbidity in the German Statutory Sickness Insurance.
- An intervention study aiming at improving the quality of care for patients with chronic stroke.
- An intervention study in order to improve the consultation of GPs by patients with multimorbidity.
- A study of quality of life in women stopping hormone treatment for menopausal discomfort.
- A biometrical study on the benefit of PSA-screening for prostate cancer.
Health services evaluation
The third area of research is related to health systems and health services research. In this area we study and evaluate disease management programs for diabetes mellitus by means of the following projects:
- Inclusion quality and outcome quality of the national disease management programs for diabetes mellitus.
- Reasons for non-participation in patient educational programs within the national DMP for diabetes mellitus.
- Subjective appreciation of the national DMP for diabetes mellitus by patients.
Professions in healthcare
The fourth area of research is the healthcare professions and the professional market. Here we investigate:
- Career course and career problems of female residents in postgraduate medical training (multicenter study on graduates of seven medical faculties).
- Career entry problems of physicians after graduation (multicenter study in 8 OECD-countries).
- Professional changes and conflicts in the professions of physiotherapy and ergotherapy in Germany.
The research funds of the Institute stem from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Land of Hamburg, several national research foundations, the Federal Chamber of Physicians and Statutory Health Insurances.
Teaching
Undergraduate education
The institute plays a central role in the undergraduate curriculum of the medical faculty and is heavily involved in curriculum reform. The teaching program includes the following topics:
- Lectures, courses and practical courses in family medicine at different stages of the curriculum.
- Seminars in family medicine for interns.
- The introductory course in clinical medicine (skills training) for preclinical students.
- Interdisciplinary bedside teaching sessions and seminars together with psychiatry, psychosomatics and geriatrics (e.g. on breaking bad news).
- A compulsory course on the national health services system and health economics.
- Training of simulated patients for several teaching activities in the faculty.
- An innovative course on intercultural competence for medical students.
In 2008 the Institute received four grants from the Faculty of Medicine or the development and testing of innovative projects in undergraduate education.
Postgraduate education
- The Institute regularly offers a course on research methodology for young scientists and students of the Faculty.
- The Institute offers a regular journal club for GPs interested in critical reading of clinical studies.
- The Institute takes part in the postgraduate training programme for GPs, which is organised by the Chamber of Physicians.
Continuing education
The institute is responsible for the planning, the implementation and the evaluation of the five years compulsory continuing education programme for all GPs in the Land of Hamburg. This programme includes 10 interactive large class sessions and parallel seminars in small groups per year.
Publications
A list of publications of the Institute is available in our publication directory.
