Translating primary care research into improved community health outcomes
| 14 October, 2025 | Jack Nash |
Every year, 29 million consultations occur in general practice across Ireland, highlighting primary care’s crucial role in delivering easily accessible healthcare. General practice is a prime example of community-based primary care and is often the first stop for many patients seeking healthcare.
In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of primary care research and showcase recent primary care-focused research as part of the HRB Primary Care CTNI gateway.
The importance of primary care research
Primary care covers any community-based services and is typically the first point of contact within the healthcare system. These services include General Practitioner (GP) clinics, primary care centres (PCCs), pharmacies, and other community health services. They often focus on treating common illnesses, managing chronic conditions, providing preventive care such as vaccinations, and long-term health advice, including support services for weight loss and quitting smoking.
Primary care research often addresses common health challenges faced by large populations as well as at-risk demographics, by identifying healthcare needs and addressing them using tailored, proactive interventions to improve the health of the wider population. For example, research in primary care covers a diverse array of topics, from patient-focused studies on individual health conditions to the use of medications throughout the community, to support and tools for primary care practitioners such as GPs and practice nurses.
Gateway Spotlight – Primary Care Clinical Trial Network Ireland (CTNI) Gateway
The HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network Ireland is a collaborative partnership that brings together key stakeholders in Ireland to conduct clinical trials in primary care. Working closely with the public, patients, GPs, and other healthcare professionals, the Network aims to improve individual patient health and healthcare by conducting high-quality, internationally recognised trials in Irish primary care, focusing on important and common health issues.
Established in 2015, the HRB Primary Care CTNI collaborates with researchers from the National University of Ireland Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), and Queen’s University Belfast. The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) is another main partner in the Network, with many GPs and primary care health professionals actively engaged in research.
The HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network Ireland Gateway provides access to articles published by the Network on HRB Open Research. Below we’ve highlighted some examples of recently published articles as part of the HRB Primary Care CTNI Gateway.
Recruitment Strategies for Lung Cancer Screening: An Umbrella Review Protocol
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Low-dose CT lung cancer screening reduces lung cancer-specific mortality by 20%, yet participation remains low, often below 15%, compared with 60–75% for other cancer screening programmes.
Barriers such as limited accessibility, stigma, fear of diagnosis, and misconceptions contribute to poor uptake, particularly among high-risk groups, including heavy smokers, ethnic minorities, and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Various recruitment strategies—such as personalised invitations, media campaigns, and primary care referrals—have been implemented, but their effectiveness across different populations remains unclear.
This Study Protocol, published as part of the Primary Care Clinical Trial Network Ireland Gateway, aims to identify the most effective recruitment strategies for improving participation in low-dose CT lung cancer screening, which currently has low uptake rates compared to other cancer screenings. By synthesising evidence from systematic reviews, the study will address barriers to participation and inform strategies to enhance early detection and survival outcomes for lung cancer, particularly among high-risk groups.
Read the full Study Protocol here.
Behaviour change interventions addressing antibiotic treatment-seeking behaviour for respiratory tract infections in primary care settings: A scoping review protocol
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is recognised as a global health and economic threat by the World Health Organisation and World Bank. Multiple factors, including patient and public demand, may contribute to unnecessary prescribing practices, which can lead to an overuse of antibiotics and affect AMR.
Current policy initiatives acknowledge the need to prepare for the future by managing public expectations regarding antibiotics, especially for influenza-like illness and other respiratory tract infections. These initiatives emphasise the importance of designing and evaluating effective interventions that generate actionable knowledge for policy and practices related to the appropriate use of antibiotics. Behaviour change interventions can aim to modify patients’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours regarding antibiotics.
This Study Protocol, published as part of the HRB Primary Care CTNI Gateway, aims to gather evidence on behaviour change interventions that address antibiotic treatment-seeking behaviour for respiratory tract infections in primary and community care settings. It highlights the need to manage public expectations regarding antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance and will explore relevant literature to identify effective interventions.
Read the full Study Protocol here.
Are you researching primary care and receiving funding from the HRB Ireland for your research? Submit your work to HRB Open Research today with no author-facing fees.