The first of the three retrospective observational studies within FoPraNet-BW has been completed. Under the project leadership of the Institute for General Practice and Interprofessional Care in Tübingen, data on polymyalgia rheumatica were collected over a period of three months in the FoPraNet-BW research practices and research practicesPLUS. In total, around 170 patients consented to take part and were thus included in the study via the participating GP practices. The analysis of this data aims to identify findings relevant to the care of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to the patients and to the research practices/research practicesPLUS for their support of our research project.
In order to evaluate both the IT research infrastructure and the conduct of the study, a survey of the research tandems in the participating GP practices will now be carried out to assess the feasibility of this observational study.