LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Empowering the Next Generation: Expanding Access to Research Methods in Family Medicine Education

Bryce A. Ringwald, MD | K. Taylor Bosworth, BS

PRiMER. 2025;9:49.

Published: 9/10/2025 | DOI: 10.22454/PRiMER.2025.687751

To the Editor:

We enthusiastically welcome PRiMER’s initiative to publish explanatory methodology papers aimed at expanding the knowledge of trainees and early-career researchers.1 As the trainee voice at the 2022 National Summit on Family Medicine Research, we see this effort as directly aligning with the vision of the National Family Medicine Strategic Plan for Research and its priorities.2

PRiMER’s article type option is an opportunity for novice researchers to better understand research methodologies, making the research process more accessible for trainees and learners. This initiative complements other efforts to build methodological literacy, including the upcoming themed issue in Family Medicine focused on “Unique Methodologies for Family Medicine Educational Research.” For those seeking methodological guidance beyond education-focused research, the Annals of Family Medicine and Family Practice offer additional open-access resources. Notably, many of the methods papers in Family Practice are authored by the Research Methodologies Workgroup of the Council Advancing the Science of Family Medicine (CASFM), a subsidiary of the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG), a key driver of the National Strategic Plan.

PRiMER’s contribution will aid in filling a critical gap in family medicine education research. Collectively, these journals’ efforts to educate readers on foundational and emerging research methods have incredible potential. To maximize their impact, coordination and strategic planning are essential. Avoiding redundancy across publications, or, when repetition is warranted, clearly distinguishing how a methodology is applied in educational versus noneducational contexts will be key to sustaining momentum and relevance.

As a specialty, we would benefit from a centralized repository or curated index of these methodology papers to fully realize the vision set forth in the National Strategic Plan.3 We look forward to PRiMER’s addition of educational research methods and its potential for high impact across the family medicine research training continuum.

References

  1. Epling JW, Morley CP. Methods matter: introducing a methodological briefs series in PRiMER Peer-Rev Rep Med Educ Res. 2025;9:38. doi:10.22454/PRiMER.2025.469756
  2. Ringwald B, Gilfoyle M, Bosworth T, Chisholm A, Locher I, Ohioma M; NAPCRG Trainee Committee. Putting trainees at the center of the family medicine research workforce of tomorrow. J Am Board Fam Med. 2025;37(suppl 2):S30-S34. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2023.230499R1
  3. Asif I, Elwood S, Weidner A. Transforming family medicine research: strategic planning, summits, and a special issue. J Am Board Fam Med. 2025;37(suppl 2):S27-S29. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2024.240301R0

Lead Author

Bryce A. Ringwald, MD

Affiliations: Bon Secour Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, OH

Co-Authors

K. Taylor Bosworth, BS - School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

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