An analysis of research projects on primary care presented to the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria during 1991

DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. SETTING: Proposals on primary health care (domain, functions and activities) identified among a total of the 1412, belonging to all topics, submitted to the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria during the 1991 exercise. INTERVENTIONS: Proposals were classified according the degree of quality in the methodological fulfillment, pointed out those accepted for grant by the Technical Evaluation Committees. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: 55 proposals about Primary Health Care were identified which account for 3.8% of the all proposals submitted. The degree of topic pertinence was very high with hypothesis and objectives well set out. There was a poor fulfillment of the methods and plan of action. Those projects with a very good fulfillment were accepted in a 90% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The reviewed proposals shaw a good pertinence in the research on primary health care. We could notice a growing portion of researchers well trained with exigent methodological criteria. However, it remains a majority of proposals with poor methodological fulfillment which could easily be improved by increasing research training and expert support. Some advices are offered for the elaboration of research projects.