Participation and successful patient recruitment in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
The demand for family physicians (FPs) to participate in research is growing. The delicate balance between research participation and the daily practice routine might explain the often-disappointing number of patients recruited. We analyzed practice and physician characteristics associated with successful patient recruitment.


METHODS
We used a survey to conduct this study.


METHODS
There was a total of 165 FPs who participated in a combined randomized clinical trial/cohort study on drug treatment of dyspepsia in the Netherlands.


METHODS
We surveyed FPs about personal and practice characteristics and their motivation for participation in the project. These data were then related to the number of patients recruited. Univariate associations were calculated; relevant factors were entered into a logistic model that predicted patient recruitment.


RESULTS
Data on 128 FPs could be analyzed (80% response rate); these FPs recruited 793 patients in the cohort study (mean = 6.3 per FP) and 527 in the clinical trial (mean = 4.2 per FP). The main reasons for participation were the research topic (59%) and the participation of an academic research group in the study (63%). Many FPs felt that participation was a professional obligation (39%); the financial incentive played a minor role (15%). The number of recruited patients was only independently associated with the participation of an academic research group.


CONCLUSIONS
Successful patient recruitment in primary care research is determined more by motivation driven by the research group than by financial incentives, the research topic, or research experience.
de Wit
N J
NJ
University Medical Centre, Universiteitsweg 100, PO Box 80045, 3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands. n.j.dewit@med.uu.nl
Quartero
A O
AO
Zuithoff
A P
AP
Numans
M E
ME
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009426:Netherlands; D018579:Patient Selection; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload