Abstract
This paper outlines the general practice world view and introduces the main features of the theories of 'chaos' and complexity. From this, analogies are drawn between general practice and the theories, which suggest a different way of understanding general practice and point to future developments in general practice research. A conceptual and practical link between qualitative and quantitative methods of research is suggested. Methods of combining data about social context with data about individuals and about biomedical factors are discussed. The paper emphasizes the importance of data collected over time and of considering the multiplicative interactions between variables. Finally, the paper suggests that to develop this type of research, general practice many need to reassess systems of categorizing and recording appropriate data.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (27.2 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Borkan J. M., Quirk M., Sullivan M. Finding meaning after the fall: injury narratives from elderly hip fracture patients. Soc Sci Med. 1991;33(8):947–957. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(91)90265-e. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chapman S. Unravelling gossamer with boxing gloves: problems in explaining the decline in smoking. BMJ. 1993 Aug 14;307(6901):429–432. doi: 10.1136/bmj.307.6901.429. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Feinstein A. R. "Clinical Judgment" revisited: the distraction of quantitative models. Ann Intern Med. 1994 May 1;120(9):799–805. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-120-9-199405010-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Howie J. G. Addressing the credibility gap in general practice research: better theory; more feeling; less strategy. Br J Gen Pract. 1996 Aug;46(409):479–481. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jacobson L. D., Edwards A. G., Granier S. K., Butler C. C. Evidence-based medicine and general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 1997 Jul;47(420):449–452. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mant D. Prevention. Lancet. 1994 Nov 12;344(8933):1343–1346. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)90698-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Prochaska J. O., DiClemente C. C., Norcross J. C. In search of how people change. Applications to addictive behaviors. Am Psychol. 1992 Sep;47(9):1102–1114. doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.47.9.1102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pruessner H. T., Hensel W. A., Rasco T. L. The scientific basis of generalist medicine. Acad Med. 1992 Apr;67(4):232–235. doi: 10.1097/00001888-199204000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tudor Hart J., Dieppe P. Caring effects. Lancet. 1996 Jun 8;347(9015):1606–1608. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(96)91083-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]