Presentation

On the 20th Anniversary of the IDIAP Jordi Gol, the 2016 Report shows again the capacity of the IDIAP to produce high quality research of great practical use. The sustained growth has encouraged the academic development of primary care professionals, the output of new scientific evidence and solutions readily applicable to everyday clinical issues. The data published in the 2016 Report clearly validates the progress of health research in primary care in Catalonia.

Primary care is crucially important in health promotion and prevention. It is also the first port of call to the health system and where patients are offered integrative, interdisciplinary and patient-centered care. Primary care attends to the main and most prevalent health issues and therefore research in primary care aims to respond to these problems and requirements of the health system.

The data included in the 2016 Report relay the progress
of research in primary care

The Health Department aims to generate new data that can have a direct impact on health improvement. The Catalan Institute of Health (ICS) undertakes to provide excellent medical care by means of health promotion and treatment of diseases, and for the most prevalent and most complex conditions. One of the main objectives of the health departments is therefore for primary care and community health to become the cornerstone of the public health system.

The ICS undertakes to provide state-of-the-art clinical care and therefore considers health research in Catalonia an essential strategic goal. The research institutes integrated in hospitals and primary care centres of the Catalan Institute of Health are very actively involved in research activities. On this account, the ICS supports, coordinates and participates in the scientific and governance boards of the Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAP) Jordi Gol.

This report shows the work accomplished to develop primary care research based on efficiency and effectiveness and in cooperation with society to improve the health of the population, our first and foremost objective.

Candela Calle

Text Managing Director ICS

We celebrate in 2016 the first 20 years of the Institute. This important milestone consolidates the work of the Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAP Jordi Gol) for the promotion of research by means of providing expertise and resources to primary health professionals willing to undertake research projects.

At the close of these first 20 years, the IDIAP has constituted a total of 35 accredited research groups and 9 Research Support Units throughout Catalonia, to bring its expertise and resources closer to the researchers. Primary care professionals are the gatekeepers of the health system, they care for and follow up patients throughout their lives. This proximity to the population is the cornerstone of primary care research and inspires research that is readily transferable to society to increase health and quality of life.

The goal of the IDIAP is to generate effective knowledge that provides efficiency to the health system through prevention and the study of diseases in the initial phases.

La recerca a l’Atenció Primària es manté
en la tendència de crixement sostingut

We are aware that research is essential to find solutions to the problems that arise in everyday clinical practice.

The 2016 Report confirms the growing trend in primary care research despite the financial crisis. We currently have more new projects than in previous years. The IDIAP has conducted 335 national and international projects and the scientific output during 2016 is of 299 articles with a total impact factor of 783.65.

We are happy with the results achieved and remain confident in our vision. The IDIAP is indeed growing and recognized as the primary care research leader in Catalonia and Spain.

Concepció Violan Fors

Chief Director IDIAP Jordi Gol