title: General practice research and research skill needs--attitudes of GP supervisors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practice research is an important learning area in general practice registrar training. General practitioner supervisors have a central role in registrar training. Registrar training in Tasmania has the added component of a research project. Little is known about supervisors' research attitudes, confidence to support registrar research projects, and research skill needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal survey was sent to all 40 GP supervisors with General Practice Training Tasmania.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate was 90% (n=36): 33% were interested in becoming involved in general practice research; 53% wanted to improve their research skills; and 55% did not feel confident supporting a registrar with a research project. Those supervisors who were confident were more likely to have previous research involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is potential for increasing research capacity in GP supervisors. It is important to build the confidence of supervisors in their support of general practice registrars engaged in research projects.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of General Practice, University of Tasmania. janette.gartlan@utas.edu.au
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gartlan
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cooling
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008486:Physician Executives / Q000523:psychology*; D011361:Professional Competence; D013648:Tasmania