Portfolio

Many different types of studies will be available through the Primary Care Research Network. Most will focus on those areas for which primary care has a particular responsibility, including disease prevention and health promotion, screening and early diagnosis and the clinical management of long term conditions. Some of the first studies which patients will be able to take part in include:

• E-ECHOES (Ethnic - Echocardiographic Heart of England Screening Study) - a screening programme for 4,000 patients from ethnic minority communities in Birmingham to detect the early signs of heart failure
• TASMINH 2 - a controlled trial of self management in hypertension. 480 patients being treated by their GP for hypertension will be taught how to take their blood pressure and adjust their own medication under supervision from their GP. Their progress will be compared to patients managed by their GP alone.