Card studies for observational research in practice.

Purpose: Observational studies that collect patient-level survey data at the point-of-care are often called card studies. Card studies have been used to describe clinical problems, management, and outcomes in primary care for more than 30 years. In this article we describe 2 types of card studies and the methods for conducting them.

Rural community members' perceptions of harm from medical mistakes: a High Plains Research Network (HPRN) Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to learn about community members' definitions and types of harm from medical mistakes.

Methods: Mixed methods study using community-based participatory research (CBPR). The High Plains Research Network (HPRN) with its Community Advisory Council (CAC) designed and distributed an anonymous survey through local community newspapers.

Action or inaction? Decision making in patients with diabetes and elevated blood pressure in primary care.

Objective: Hypertension increases micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes. The goal for blood pressure is <130/80 mmHg. In primary care, however, blood pressure in many patients exceeds this goal.

Barriers to quality care for dying patients in rural communities.

Context: Barriers to providing optimal palliative care in rural communities are not well understood.

Purpose: To identify health care personnel's perceptions of the care provided to dying patients in rural Kansas and Colorado and to identify barriers to providing optimal care.

Methods: An anonymous self-administered survey was sent to health care personnel throughout 2 rural practice-based research networks.

Triage and diagnosis of chest pain in rural hospitals: implementation of the ACI-TIPI in the High Plains Research Network.

Purpose: The Acute Cardiac Ischemia Time-Insensitive Predictive Instrument (ACI-TIPI) has been shown to improve diagnostic accuracy of acute cardiac ischemia (ACI) and decrease coronary care unit admissions in urban emergency departments. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the ACI-TIPI on triage and diagnosis of patients with chest pain in rural hospitals.

Methods: We undertook a controlled trial of the impact ACI-TIPI use in the High Plains Research Network (HPRN).

Community-based participatory research in practice-based research networks.

Purpose: We wanted to describe community-based participatory research in practice-based research networks in the United States.

Methods: We surveyed all identified practice-based research networks (PBRNs) in the United States to find out whether they had a mechanism for obtaining feedback or involvement from the community of patients served by PBRN physicians. We asked open-ended questions on how they involve community members and whether they had plans for future involvement of community members and/or patients.