The IIS Aragón strengthens its commitment to clinical research in Primary Care

National experts met on June 4th to address the challenges of clinical trials in Primary Care, in a conference led by the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) and the Aragon Health Service.

The Aragonese Health Service and the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) held the conference last Wednesday, June 4th 'The challenge of clinical trials in primary care', a meeting aimed at health professionals with the aim of promote research culture at this level of care and publicize the clinical research strategy being developed in Aragon. 

The meeting has been framed within the dissemination of the Guide to Good Practice Recommendations for the Promotion of Clinical Research in Primary Care (ICAP Guide)) and has included the participation of medical staff, nurses, researchers and other health professionals linked to Primary Care.

La Coordinator of the Clinical Research Unit of the IIS Aragón, Eva López, He highlighted the importance of this event as a space for meeting and reflection for healthcare professionals at the primary care level.Promoting clinical trials in Primary Care is key "to generate scientific evidence that is closer to the patient's reality, improve daily healthcare practices, and move toward more effective and equitable healthcare," he said. 

He stated that this event "is an opportunity to highlight the crucial role that health centers play in developing quality research and to provide tools that facilitate their participation."

For her part, the manager of the Aragonese Health Service (SALUD), Ana Castillo, has stated that the Conducting clinical trials in Primary Care "is a great challenge in Aragon and a great opportunity" to enhance the quality of care." 

Ana Castillo emphasized that this level of care "is the backbone" of the healthcare system, and that is why conducting clinical trials in primary care allows for "generating more accessible data that is applicable to more routine clinical practice," as well as "ensuring more efficient, effective, safe, and accessible treatments for the population."

The SALUD manager added that Promoting research at this level of care also serves to "encourage the professional development of primary care physicians and nurses." and "it is essential to achieve the best health outcomes, as well as a more equitable, efficient, and people-centered system that adapts to technological development and innovation."

Active network

Currently, less than 7% of clinical trials in Spain are carried out in Primary Care, despite the fact that this level of care addresses 80% of the population's health problems.

"The creation of an active network of Primary Care professionals interested in research is necessary.", promoting ongoing training and the necessary support to initiate clinical trials in health centers," Eva López emphasized. 

He considered that the The success of this event reinforces the commitment of the IIS Aragón"with closer, more collaborative research focused on addressing the real challenges of the healthcare system from the healthcare base." 

Clinical trials in primary care

This Wednesday's session, which was held in in person at the CIBA building, starting at 16:00 p.m., and could also be followed online. The event was inaugurated by the scientific director of the IIS Aragón, Ángel Lanas, and for the Managing Director of the Aragonese Health Service, Ana Castillo.

The program was structured into three distinct sections. The first, focused on strategies to promote the development of clinical trials in Primary Care, featured the participation of Pilar Borraz, sole manager of the Primary Care Sector of the Aragonese Health Service; Amelia Martín, director of the Clinical and Translational Research Department at Farmaindustria; and Eva López, coordinator of the Clinical Research Unit of the IIS Aragón. A panel moderated by Ángel Lanas.

Then the Researcher María Antonia Sánchez Calavera, from the Aragonese Primary Care Research Group (GAIAP) of the IIS Aragón, has addressed the transition from theory to practice in the development of clinical trials in this field. 

After a coffee break and networking among attendees, a section focused on the experiences of researchers from different autonomous communities took place. 

This table, moderated by researcher Rosa Magallón, included interventions by Ernest Vinyoles, coordinator of the Agency for Clinical Research in Primary Care (AGICAP) of the IDIAP Jordi Gol i Gurina of Catalonia; Jesús González, researcher of the Clinical Epidemiological Research Group of Primary Care of the IMIBIC of Andalusia; and Isabel Blasco, researcher at the Aragonese Primary Care Research Group.

The day was closed by Pilar Borraz, the sole manager of Primary Care at SALUD, who emphasized the importance of continuing to promote the participation of Primary Care teams in clinical research projects as an essential part of the advancement of the Aragonese healthcare system.

Source: Aragon Today