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FORSKSKOLE-Forskerskoler

NAFALM - The Norwegian Research School in General Practice

Awarded: NOK 23.1 mill.

After nine years (2013-2021) we experience that the Norwegian Research School for General Practice has had great impact on the entire general practice academic milieu in Norway, by creating a professional network across universities and strengthening the academic platform for the PhD candidates. The main goal of the Research School for General Practice has been to develop and strengthen the PhD education in general practice through collaboration. We have reached this by close cooperation between the partner institutions, where the development and operation of the school has been a boost for all academic environments. In addition, the research school aimed to strengthen the recruitment of future general practice researchers, promote a creative and sustainable environment, and stimulate the development of theory and research methods suitable for general practice research and be an incentive for mobility of PhD candidates nationally and internationally. All these goals have been achieved to a high degree. The school has created an academic and social arena for PhD students across professions. Most of the PhD students are general practitioners, but there are also nurses, psychologists, dentists, physiotherapists and various masters among the school's students. The interdisciplinary approach has been enriching for the environment. Thirty of the students have received support for research stays or courses abroad, of shorter or longer duration, before the pandemic put an end to this. The course "Key writings of general practice" is important for the school. The aim of the course is to provide participants with knowledge of groundbreaking literature in general practice professional development and research. The course extends over a year, beginning at the school's autumn seminar, followed by webinars through the winter, before concluding with an exam where the students present a paper. Organization The research schools funded by the research council have different organizational models. The Research School for General Practice has class-based courses, and we believe that this has strengthened the fellowship between the candidates. We have one admission per year, and during these nine years we have admitted 118 candidates. So far, 43% have defended their PhD thesis, and many are in the final phase of their PhD. They have become well acquainted with fellow candidates and senior supervisors from all four medical faculties through the research school courses. Candidates that have graduated have created an alumni network participating in our annual seminar. Many general practice PhD candidates work part-time with research, often alongside a busy GP practice or other clinical practice. This implies that it takes longer time to complete a doctorate than for full time PhD candidates. Life as a PhD candidate can be lonely if you live and work far from the university you are affiliated with. Regular contact with colleagues in research is important. Since the start in 2013, we have had web-based teaching in addition to ordinary seminars and courses. This has allowed for candidates to participate regardless of where they live. The NAFALM seminar every autumn has been the starting point for each class, and these three days together have made them welded together and laid the foundation for the web courses working so well. The NAFALM seminar The autumn seminar has become the hub of the research school. Here, fresh and more experienced candidates, alumni, supervisors and guests from the general practice research milieus meet. We have had exciting speakers at our annual plenary lectures at the NAFALM seminar. Among others, we have had visits from Iona Heath, Stewart Mercer and Anna Stavdal, who have all given plenary lectures and participated in other activities at the seminars. Lancet editor Stuart Spencer and Jørund Straand have inspired the candidates in how to get their articles published in international journals. The second-year students have presented posters and received feedback, and the last-year students have impressed with discussions about canonical articles for the general practice research field and as a doctoral candidate or opponent in mini-dissertations. In addition to the annual NAFALM seminar and the web courses, we have had several thematic PhD courses, most of them allowing for the candidates to work on their own research project. We have had courses in qualitative methods, systematic reviews, statistical methods, as well as multimorbidity and randomized controlled studies, in addition to various seminars and workshops. Many supervisors have also participated in our courses.

NAFALMs kurs har en tydelig vinkling mot forskningsutfordringer i allmennmedisinen og supplerer de mer generelle ph.d.-kursene. Kursene har mye egenaktivitet og bruk av eget forskningsprosjekt og bidrar til å styrke faglig identitet. NAFALMs aktiviteter har bidratt til internasjonalisering, spesielt gjennom internasjonale forelesere samt kurs og forskningsopphold i utlandet. Det nasjonale samarbeidet i NAFALM i utviklingen av forskerskolen har vært et felles løft for fagmiljøene. Så å si samtlige aktuelle stipendiater deltar. Det har vært et stort engasjement fra de allmennmedisinske universitetsmiljøene når det gjelder utvikling av skolen. NAFALM bygger nettverk mellom veiledere og stipendiater fra hele landet, der mange av stipendiatene jobber deltid som allmennleger og flere er bosatt langt unna universitetsbyene. Gjennom forskerskolen får de et nettverk som de kan bygge videre på i sin karriere både som forskere og i sitt kliniske arbeid i kommuner og primærhelsetjeneste.

This is a joint application from all academic general practice environments in Norway: Universities of Oslo, Bergen (including two units at UNI health), Tromsø and Trondheim (NTNU). The application describes a research school in medicine tailored for gene ral practice and coordinated from UiO. As underlined by the recent NFR-evaluation report, the present general practice units are small, have ageing faculties, and are lagging behind when it comes to national and international research collaboration. Tod ay, no optional ph.d. courses excist tailored for the general practice setting. The proposed research school will provide a national arena with a menu of relevant courses, seminars, workshops to make up the optional training for general practice ph.d. can didates. The school will represent a huge step forward by creating real and virtual meeting places, both nationally and internationally. Autumn 2013, we aim to enroll the first group of ph.d. candidates and run the first courses. Candidates should be in f irst part of their projects and enrolled in the ph.d. program at their home department. The programme will include a mandatory and an optional part. Courses will be held on the four sites. The curriculum will be gradually expanded corresponding to at leas t 20 ETCS points when the school is fully established. The school will be led by a steering committee representing the four sites, a ph.d. candidate,an international representative, and the school's director (50% position). A website including information , news, virtual class rooms and administrative features will be established. Administrative positions will bee 50% in Oslo (day-to-day work, website etc) and 20% positions (course administration etc) at the different sites. The school aim to include measu res to improve supervising quality. Internationalization will include candidate and teacher mobility and guest lecturers. International contacts are already established but will be developed further.

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FORSKSKOLE-Forskerskoler

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