Research

Overview

Our research focuses on four distinct strands:

• The management of chronic disease in general practice
• Patient safety and quality of care
• The working lives and wellbeing of doctors
• Primary care and simulation-based education

Our research is strengthened by our multidisciplinary team - including clinically active general practitioners working alongside social scientists. We also work closely with other cognate colleagues particularly in health psychology, biostatistics, health economics and nursing both within and without the university.

Areas & Themes

• Members of the Discipline of GP led, and co-led, more than 10 patient safety research grants in the past decade- securing approximately €4 million in competitive funding. This body of research has directly informed policy, practice, and training.
• Approximately 65 peer-reviewed publications on patient safety and quality of care published in the last decade. Collectively, these publications have contributed to national policy, informed safety improvement initiatives, and advanced understanding of how to deliver safer care.
• Members of the discipline have conducted a body of research that was the foundation of the reforms to the National Intern Curriculum
• Our research has had real impact on healthcare practice and policy. For example, in chronic disease management, research by the Discipline has directly influenced the national introduction of chronic disease management and access to GP care
• In primary care education our expertise is leading national efforts to address workforce shortages in General Practice by identifying key enablers to enhance medical students’ engagement with GP as a potential future career (see here) as well as impacting national policy on selection of medical student and widening participation strategies

Environment & Structures

The Discipline, in collaboration with Prof Susan Smith of TCD, has hosted since 2015, the national Health Research Board Primary Care Clinical Trials Network. The Network supports the creation of high-quality clinical evidence which improves patient outcomes in Irish primary care.  It has supported over 30 studies, involving over 6,300 patients and leveraging over €15 million in research funding.

Staff members in the Discipline of General Practice are also core to the successful research and functioning of the University of Galway’s Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation (ICAPSS).

Recognition & Innovation

Prof. Andrew W. Murphy was awarded the prestigious biennial 2025 national Health Research Board Impact Award. He is only the fourth winner of this Award and the first general practitioner and the first from the University of Galway. In particular, it was considered that he has made ‘an exceptional and direct impact on policy and clinical care in Ireland and globally’.

Staff

Meet our research team and view their profiles, publications, and projects on the University of Galway Research Portal: