A general dental practice research network--philosophy, activities and participant views.

The importance of building research capability among general dental practitioners was highlighted when in 1996 a large tranche of money was released to support research and development in primary dental care. As a result of the links forged by this research opportunity, a group of primary dental care practitioners was recruited into a Primary Dental Network. This network was closely allied to an academic department and the aim was to develop the practitioners' research interest into research skills and finally into a research project. The group therefore attended a series of structured workshops, designed specifically to augment the practitioners' skills using a 'learning by doing' approach. Once the practitioners had acquired the relevant skills, they undertook a research project, which will be reported in a later paper.