The Spanish primary care collaborative research network (REDIAPP):: a model of research on psychiatry in primary care for export?

In January 2002, the most important Spanish biomedical research-financing agency developed a national program to co-ordinate biomedical researchers in different fields of knowledge by developing collaborative research networks. One of the most important, according to the number of members and funding obtained, was REDIAPP (in English, Research Network on Preventative Activities and Health Promotion), a primary care-based collaborative research network with a two-level structure: a geographical organisation parallel to the Spanish system of government, and thematic research organisation. This paper summarises the objectives, organisation, selection and development projects and specific characteristics of REDIAPP. Other Western countries have developed strategies to improve medical research at primary care level and, in general, these efforts have been successful. However, we consider that the Spanish model for improvement in primary care research, based on the REDIAPP scheme, has specific characteristics worth taking into account. The most outstanding of these is the availability of research for the members of the health system and the open organisation of the network.