We are happy to be with you in the first issue of the Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. It is always exciting to watch the birth of a journal, to see its development and maturing, to bring thousands of people together through new ideas, new inspirations, and the joy of sharing scientific knowledge. This is the birthday of a new journal in the broad field of family medicine and primary care.

As the result of the substantial growth of the academic community engaged in family medicine research which has been going on for decades particularly in the developed world, many national and international journals have appeared. Unfortunately, the contribution to these journals on the part of family medicine professionals from developing countries remains low. As a matter of fact, their low participation in the scientific world restricts even further the limited financial support for research and results in a vicious circle.

The Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care is a new peer-reviewed research journal that aims to support a transdisciplinary learning community of those who generate and use new knowledge on health and primary health care. It was born out of the growing need to advance the knowledge base for the fundamental primary care functions and relationships. These relationships involve caring for individuals, families, and communities in ways that integrate, personalize, and prioritize health care to reduce the burden of illness. Family medicine and the primary care disciplines need a forum to develop an integrated body of knowledge and a generalist paradigm that is grounded on science, practice and different ways of knowing. The Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care aims to be such a forum.

The Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care features original research from the clinical, biomedical, social and health care services sciences. Contributions on methodology and theory develop the underpinning for future research that advances the field. Selected systematic reviews draw on explicit methods to synthesize what is known and to move beyond – to advance theory or methods, or to identify new research directions. Essays from reflective clinicians, patients, families, communities, and policymakers portray a personal perspective on illness, health, and generalist health care. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care aims to serve a broad audience in the field of family medicine and primary care both nationally and internationally and to provide a medium for the rapid communication of advances and new knowledge in this field. Our purpose is to improve the quality and the presentation of the journal to attract researchers throughout the world.

We invite all family medicine and primary care professionals throughout the world to contribute to the journal.

Editor in Chief

Nafiz Bozdemir