Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content

Primary Care Research Journeys

The examples below highlight some of the breadth of primary care research led by Department of Family Medicine faculty. Selected to reflect a range of topics, methodologies, and scales of research, these projects illustrate how research evolves—from early pilot studies and feasibility work to larger grants, publications, policy influence, implementation, and randomized controlled trials. Together, they demonstrate the many pathways through which primary care research generates evidence and improves health and healthcare.

E-dosette study – Henry Siu

The E‑Dosette study began as a small pilot project (2014–2015) exploring whether an electronic medication monitoring device could improve medication safety for community-dwelling seniors. Early findings supported further development, leading to a $100,000 catalyst grant (2015–2016) to refine the technology and expand the research.

The team then moved into feasibility testing, first developing and trialing the device (2017), and later demonstrating the potential of a technology-supported intervention to improve medication adherence in older adults in primary care (2019). Findings were shared through publications and an end-of-grant knowledge translation video.

This project highlights how primary care research evolves—starting with a small idea, building evidence through pilot work, and progressing toward practical solutions that improve patient care.

Learner mistreatment & abuse – Meredith Vanstone & Amanda Bell

This program of research began with a DFM pilot project (2016–2017) exploring how the structure of clerkship and residency influences medical learner mistreatment. Early findings highlighted important gaps in understanding and reporting, leading to additional funding to examine barriers to reporting mistreatment among medical students (2017–2018).

Building on this work, a larger funded study (2017–2019) investigated how clinical workplace environments shape unprofessional and abusive behaviours, and how these experiences influence the development of future health leaders.

The team’s research generated key insights, published in Medical Education (2020, 2023), on why learners often do not report mistreatment and how both learners and educators define what constitutes mistreatment. Beyond academic outputs, this work contributed to meaningful institutional change, including the establishment of the Office of Learner Experience and Mistreatment at McMaster, the introduction of a new reporting system, and visible prompts encouraging reporting.

This research demonstrates how early exploratory work can lead to deeper inquiry, influence policy, and drive cultural change in medical education.

CP@clinic – Gina Agarwal

CP@clinic began as an innovative approach to supporting older adults living in social housing through community paramedicine. The program has expanded through multiple research studies, including randomized controlled trials and adaptations in different settings, while generating evidence to improve chronic disease prevention, health promotion, and access to care for vulnerable populations.

Learn more

Health TAPESTRY – David Price, Doug Oliver, Dee Mangin

Health TAPESTRY began as an innovative model of person-focused primary care into a large research and implementation program. The initiative brings together volunteers, community resources, technology, and primary care teams to support older adults in achieving their health goals and improving health outcomes.

Learn more

TAPER – Dee Mangin

TAPER (Team Approach to Polypharmacy Evaluation and Reduction) grew from foundational research on polypharmacy in older adults into a structured clinical pathway designed to help patients and healthcare providers safely reduce unnecessary medications. Initial research informed the development, refinement, and pilot testing of the intervention, followed by implementation studies and randomized controlled trials

Learn more