Lionis Christos, Galenianos Myronas, Papadakaki Maria, Patelarou Evridiki, Saridaki Aristoula, Shea Sue, Vlachadi Maria on behalf of the Clinic of Social and Family

Medicine, University of Crete (http://www.fammed.uoc.gr/)

Agius Dominic, Eriksson Tina, Faresjo Tomas, Loh Alfred, Martinez Luc, Merkouris Bodossakis, Samoutis George, Slikkerveer Jan, Tsiantou Vasiliki, Uncu Yesim, Vlcek

Jiri on behalf of OTC SOCIOMED (www.otcsociomed.uoc.gr)

MacFarlane Anne, O’Reilly-de Brún Mary, de Brún Tomas, Dowrick Chris, O’Donnell Catherine, Mair Frances, Spiegel Wolfgang, Vanden Muijsenbergh Maria, Van Weel-

Baumgarten Evelyn on behalf of RESTORE (www.fp7restore.eu)

Rogers Anne, Todorova Elka, Portillo Maria Carmen, Foss Christina, Wensing Michel, Serrano Gill Manuel on behalf of EU-WISE

Statements: Networking with European Countries within the framework of EU FP7 Projects offers promising results on the

following:

(a) Enhancing the Greek capacity by training researchers and practitioners by listening to ideas and methods by other

European colleagues

(b) Adapting and improving innovation within primary care research

(c) Quality improvement by using recommendations/guidelines in the Greek primary care services

EFPC 4th Biannual Conference "Crossing Borders in Primary Care" in Gothenburg, 3-4 September 2012

Purpose: To report on the benefits of engaging in FP7 EU European projects to enhance research capacity for improving patient experience at an academic unit of general practice on Crete, Greece.

Theory: Three EU FP7 projects are reported on, encompassing various theories which enable shared learning, an interprofessional approach, and the potential for enhanced research capacity and improvement of patient care. Theories include: The Health Care Utilization (HCU) Model 1and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)2 for OTC SOCIOMED, the Participatory Learning and Action (PLA)3 and Normalization Process Theory (NPT)4 for the RESTORE project and the Whole System Approach 5 and Social Network Analysis in the EU-WISE project. 1 L.J. Slikkerveer. A Multivariate Model of Biocultural Conservation of Medicinal, Aromatic and Cosmetic (MAC) Plants in Indonesia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications 3:127-138 (2005).

2 Ajzen, I. The Theory of Planned Behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Process, 50, 179-211 (1991).

3 Chambers, R. Whose Reality Counts? Putting the first last. London: Intermediate Technology Publications (1997).

4 May, C., Murray, E., Finch, T., Mair, F., Treweek, S., Ballini, L., Macfarlane, A. and Rapley, T. (2010) Normalization Process Theory On-line Users’ Manual and Toolkit. Available from http://www.normalizationprocess.org.

5 Rogers, A., Vassilev, I., Sanders, C., Kirk, S., Chew-Graham, C., Kennedy, A., Protheroe, J., Bower, P., Blickem, C., Reeves, D., Kapadia, D., Brooks, H., Fullwood, C., Richardson, G. Social networks, work and network-based resources for the management of long-term conditions: a framework and study protocol for developing self-care support. Implementation Science, 6:56 (2011).

Methods: The OTC SOCIOMED project consisting of a consortium of Universities, (Univ. of Crete, Leiden Univ., Charles Univ. in Prague, Univ. of Linkoping) Colleges, Networks and Associations (Greek Association of General Practitioners, French Society of General Medicine, National School of Public Health (Greece), WONCA Trust, WOCNA Europe, Turkish Association of Family Physicians, and Association of General Practice, Cyprus) conducted quantitative and qualitative surveys for collecting data from general practitioners (GPs), community pharmacists and patients or clients through structured questionnaires that were developed based on HCU and TPB.

A combination of NPT and PLA is used in the RESTORE project (a consortium of Universities: Univ. of Limerick, Univ. of Liverpool, Univ. of Glasgow, Medical University of Vienna, Radbound Univ. Nijmegen and Univ. of Crete) to investigate and support the implementation of guidelines and training initiatives to support communication in cross-cultural primary care consultations.

Mixed methods including, social network analysis with in-depth qualitative methods, will be used in the EU-WISE project to understand the role and influences of resources which might impact on peoples’ ability to manage long term conditions.

Findings:

- Tools have been created or adapted into the Greek primary care setting.

- Researchers and GPs have been trained in implementing theories into practice.

- Certain health needs of the population have been recognized.

- Recommendations or guidelines have been formed or are under preparation.

- Strong links with European Universities and colleges have been achieved.