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The article offers a look at the practical experiences of two clinical podiatrists in undertaking a randomized controlled trial (RCT) within a hospital environment while on secondment from their primary care trust (PCT) clinical commitments. The challenges posed by recruiting trial participants are described, including the development of recruitment methods and designing communications to lure patients to participate in a trial. The relevance of non-technical skills when conducting RCT is emphasized, along with a lost of things to do when administering a trial. The authors noted that research process is more than data collection, but establishing relationships with other health care professionals.

Examines the importance of primary health care (PHC) among persons with drug and alcohol problems. Repeated emphasis on the importance of PHC setting in the care of alcohol and drug misusers; Consultation of general practitioners (GPs) by heavy drinkers twice as often as light drinkers; How drug users perceived the primary care setting.