Special Interest Groups
As part of its strategic goal to enhance impact through collaborative action, SAPC supports a number of Special Interest Groups or “SIGs”.
The SIGs programme was established to support areas of work and topics that are core to primary care, with ideas for SIGs coming from the membership. SIGs support both “mainstream” areas of interest and areas that may be traditionally difficult to find support and funding, including basic science and “blue sky” topics.
What is a SIG?
A SIG is a community with an interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology where members co-operate to affect or to produce solutions within their particular field, and may communicate, meet, and organise conferences. SIGs may advocate or lobby on certain issues, but they are generally distinct from advocacy groups and pressure groups.
SAPC established its SIGs to enable members with similar interests to identify each other, share information and ideas, and potentially work up collaborations around teaching and research.
What do SAPC SIGs do?
Each of our SIGs agrees its own plan of activity with its members; this may change over time. You can find out more about the activities of each individual group on our website. Many SIGs hold meetings at the Annual Scientific Meeting, and sometimes at regional meetings too.
What does SAPC do to support its SIGS?
SAPC supports the activities of SIGs through providing a web presence for the group, a meeting slot at the Annual conference, and access to a bursary of up to £500 per year (a maximum of five times in the life of the SIG) to support additional activities of the group.
We ask each SIG to send us an annual report of their activities, which is posted on the webpage.
SAPC SIGs lead
Dr Rachel Spencer
I am interested in setting up a SIG! What do I need to do?
If you have an idea for a SIG, you need to submit an application form to the SAPC Executive. The proposal must come from a SAPC member. The application should detail why the topic is relevant to academic primary care, and why establishing a SIG would support taking the work forward. Applications are reviewed by the SIG lead before being presented for approval at the next SAPC Executive meeting.
Established SIGs will be required to submit an annual report on their activities by the end of January each year. Reports will be posted on the SAPC website. Groups will only be eligible to apply for an annual bursary once they have been established for a year/submitted one annual report.
Current SIGS
Further information about our current SIGs can be found in the list below.
Applied Genetics
The genetics group was formed in 2012 to create a forum for sharing information and news in genetics in primary care. It was renamed Applied genetics in 2022.
Behaviour Change
To promote research incorporating health behaviour change in primary care.
Continuity of Care
The aims of this group are to bring together UK primary care researchers working on continuity of care its different conceptualisations in practice and to promote research on this topic.
Dermatology
To promote research into the prevention, diagnosis and management of the skin problems commonly seen in primary care
Digital Technologies in Primary Care
@DigitalTechPC Bringing together researchers and clinicians interested in the application of digital technologies in the delivery of primary care.
Education Research
A community of people whose interests range across teaching and research expertise in primary care.
Health Literacy
To raise the profile of Health Literacy in the UK; and to share skills, ideas and develop new research in the field of HL in the UK and internationally
Inclusion Health/ Deep End research
Our group aims to create a ‘community of interest’ of primary care researchers doing work related to marginalised groups (Inclusion health) or in areas of concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage (Deep End).
Kidney Disease
Bringing together primary, secondary and public health researchers to develop evidence-based strategies for identifying and preventing progression of kidney disease.
Learning Disabilities and Autism Research Group
We are a network of academics and clinicians with a common interest in supporting academic work linked to improving care for people with learning disabilities and or autism.
Mental Health
To bring together researchers working in the field of primary care mental health.
Multiple Long-term Conditions
The Multiple long-term conditions SIG aims to promote and share research and ideas on the understanding and management of multiple long-term conditions in primary care.
If you would like to join our SIG then please click the link in Learn more below.
Oral Health and Dental Care
To develop an academic platform for collaborative partnerships across primary care so as to nurture academic careers in primary dental care
Palliative Care
To stimulate palliative care research in primary care and to consolidate a sound academic research base for palliative care in the community.
Patient & Public Involvement and participatory research approaches in academic primary care
@SAPCPR The aim of the group is to discuss and critically reflect on PPI and participatory approaches, develop innovative approaches to increasing stakeholder involvement in Academic Primary Care (APC).
Physical activity / Exercise as medicine
@SAPCexerciseSIG The aim of this SIG is to promote evidence based physical activity interventions in primary care.
Prescribing and Medication Optimisation
The group aims to bring together academics and clinicians working on prescribing and medication optimisation
Primary care Academic CollaboraTive (PACT)
PACT is a collaborative research network of enthusiastic primary care team members who want to participate in high impact projects and learn more about research.
Quality & Safety Improvement in Primary Care
This friendly and inclusive group is for anyone interested in quality and safety improvement.
Secure Environments Group (RCGP and SAPC)
We are committed to the development of a research strategy in order to benchmark and determine the health outcomes of our population to ensure that standards and health outcomes are defined, measured and met.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
To promote research excellence and capacity in sexual and reproductive healthcare in primary care
Urgent Primary and Community Care (UPCC)
A new SIG for all things urgent primary and community care including: urgent care, out-of-hours care, alternatives to admission, urgent care workforce issues, primary and secondary care interface pertaining to acute care, and much more.
Women's Health
A supportive SIG that strengthens collaboration and promotes research and teaching excellence in the area of women’s community health at a national and international level.
Spare
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