Family medicine practice and research: survey of physicians' attitudes towards scientific research in a post-communist transition country.
BACKGROUND
Although the paradigm of modern medicine is evidence-based practice, there is a lack of research output and interest in research in family medicine. We investigated attitudes towards scientific research among family medicine practitioners in a country in post-communist socioeconomic transition, and related it to their attitudes towards alternative medicine and clinical knowledge relevant for their practice.


METHODS
We surveyed 427 family medicine practitioners in Croatia about their attitudes towards scientific research (5-point rating scale, total score range 20-100) and alternative medicine (5-point rating scale, total score range 14-70). We also tested their knowledge on diagnosis and treatment of hypertension (10 questions) and diabetes (12 questions).


RESULTS
The attitude towards scientific research was positive (score 79.0 +/- 7.2 out of maximum 100) and significantly more positive than that towards alternative medicine (score 45.0 +/- 9.9 out of maximum 70; t(425) = 19.06, P < 0.001). The respondents correctly answered about half the questions on hypertension and diabetes; knowledge on new diagnostic and treatment guidelines was better than their textbook knowledge. The attitude scores were not related to knowledge or research activity or the medical practice of the respondents.


CONCLUSIONS
Family medicine practitioners in a transition country have a more positive attitude towards science than towards alternative medicine, despite the adverse situation in which they practice. To involve family medicine practitioners in research, interventions must be directed towards changes in behavior and practice and not only towards increasing positive attitudes.
Rogulj
Zdenka Mrdesa
ZM
Split University School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
Baloevic
Elizabet
E
Dogas
Zoran
Z
Kardum
Goran
G
Hren
Darko
D
Marusic
Ana
A
Marusic
Matko
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003148:Communism; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D017523:Croatia; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012922:Social Change; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires