Department of
General Practice



Department
Staff


UCC Departments
Medical Faculty
UCC Homepage

Current Research Activities

A Study of Doctor-Patient Communication Regarding Medicines

with The University of Birmingham, The United Medical and Dental Schools of Guys and St. Thomas's, London and The School of Pharmacy

This large study, which is funded by the NHS Research and Development initiative, is investigating the mismatch between doctors and patients in their expectations for medications and their communications around medication issues. It is soon to progress to a phase 2 which will involve a variety of interventions to try and reduce the communication gap that exists around medication issues between doctors and their patients.


A Study of Palliative Care in Irish General Practice

This qualitative study of the provision of palliative care in Irish general practice will focus particularly on the number and range of caregivers and how this relates to outcomes for patients. It is being undertaken by Dr. Margaret Hally, an M.Med.Sci. student, who is a Clinical Research Fellow appointed by the Southern Health Board under the auspices of the Cork Vocational Training Programme for General Practice.


An Epidemiological Study of Prevalence of Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People Aged 50-69 in Irish General Practice

This study will be the first to systematically quantify the prevalence of Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in an Irish population. It will also be one of the first to use the new WHO criteria for the diagnosis of NIDDM. The association with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease will also be investigated. It is being undertaken by Dr. Don Creagh, an M.Med.Sci. student, who is a Clinical Research Fellow appointed by the Southern Health Board under the auspices of the Cork Vocational Training Programme for General Practice.


An Evaluation of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Irish General Practice

in collaboration with the Irish College of General Practitioners

This study, which is part-funded by the General Medical Services Research and Education Fund, will evaluate the costs and benefits of the introduction of home blood pressure monitoring into Irish general practice. Home blood pressure monitoring is made possible by recent technological advances in semi-automatic blood pressure measuring devices, one of which will also be field tested during the project.