Primary Care Research

Enhancing Alberta Primary Care Networks (EnACt)

The following research has been made possible by AMA-ACTT partnering with the University of Alberta's Department of Family Medicine EnACt. EnACt was an infrastructure to support and enhance Alberta's existing practice-based research networks. It was supported by the Alberta Innovates Transitional Health Chair in Engaged Scholarship, awarded to Dr. Lee Green, its mission was two-fold: support research in practice, and support research on practice.

Scaling Up Primary Care Transformation

Using Cognitive Task Analysis, we sought to understand how we can move past successful demonstrations to widespread adoption of the Patient Medical Home in Alberta. Read our findings based on 42 interviews across 18 Alberta family medicine clinics.

Physician Champions: A Strategic Resource in Alberta

Family physicians in Alberta, who successfully engage other members of the practicing community, health organizations, and the public, are well-positioned to build awareness about provincial transformational initiatives, affect positive change, be the voice of primary care in the province, and create system level transformation.

Scaling Up Integration in Alberta: Pilot Study

Improving integration between specialty and primary care is key to reducing unnecessary hospital admissions, readmissions, medical errors, and delays in receiving care

Improving Improvement: Pilot Study

This pilot project demonstrated it is possible to transfer skills and knowledge from Diffusion of Innovations theory and Cognitive Task Analysis to Practice Facilitators to support primary care transformation. A second study is being completed, more to follow.

Pilot Study:

Scaling Up Cirrhosis Care: Sub-Study

Understanding primary and specialty care physicians' mental models of cirrhosis care helps to identify factors that may hinder coordination of care and will inform the development of a cirrhosis care pathway.

Symptom Management in Cirrhosis Care

The purpose of this research is to interview primary and specialty care physicians and nurse practitioners, in a specific way that will help us understand their thinking and decision-making when they manage symptoms of patients living with cirrhosis

Using Clinical Pathways for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care: Understanding Physicians’ Mental Models

The purpose of this study was to understand family physicians’ thinking and approach to using three specific Clinical Pathways for Cancer Diagnosis. This understanding provides insights for the Cancer Strategic Clinical Network on whether and how family physicians use the Pathways, how or where they would like to access them, and suggestions for how to integrate into existing workflow. 

Contact Us

For additional information please contact Tanya Barber at: tkbarber@ualberta.ca