Practice-based research networks: the view from the office.

Practice-based research networks have developed rapidly in the United States during the past decade in response to the pressing need for research into the clinical issues faced daily in family practice and primary care. To be responsive to the needs of practice, most networks are organized to maximize the wisdom of the practicing clinician in identifying and framing research questions. This assures that the results will be directly applicable to practice. Reuniting practice and research is an important benefit of practice-based research, and it is essential that the views of practicing clinicians be incorporated into the development of this form of research.