Research trials in general practice: towards a focus on clinical practice.

With current moves towards an emphasis on the 'whole' patient rather than fragmenting the person into organ systems research methods need to be developed which reflect that emphasis and direct us in our endeavour as clinicians. It is possible to have a descriptive science of human behaviour which can be based upon clinical consultations. In this way the clinician is required to act as a clinical anthropologist as well as a clinical epidemiologist.