The views of dentists on their participation in a primary care-based research trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the attitudes and opinions of dentists undertaking research in primary care dental practices, about the value of research in primary care.


METHODS
The data were collected during a face-to-face interview utilising a schedule of open and closed questions, which were used to guide the interview.


RESULTS
Twenty-seven of the 40 primary care dentists (67.5%) who had participated in a five-year primary care clinical trial completed the interview. All the respondents believed that primary care research was important and should be of relevance to their practice, but only 12 (44%) thought it was important they carried out this research. The majority (96%) of respondents felt it did not pay financially to do research as a primary care practitioner and 12 (44%) thought research in primary care was too time consuming, but 25 (92%) were prepared to get involved in a primary care research group. Five (56%) salaried service (SS) practitioners and 14 (78%) general dental services (GDS) dentists felt they did not have enough experience, skills or knowledge to conduct their own research. Significantly more salaried dentists compared with GDS dentists felt adequately supported to do primary care research.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research in primary care should be focused on topics primary care practitioners feel of use to their clinical practice. A method of funding practitioners and providing time for them to complete research away from their clinical duties is necessary. There is a need for collaborative working with an academic institution, which can provide training and academic support for practitioners.
Hopper
L
L
Lance Burn Health Centre, Salford Primary Care Trust, Churchill Way, Salford, M6 5QX. louise.hopper@salford-pct.nhs.uk
Aspinall
A
A
Mackie
I C
IC
Blinkhorn
F A
FA
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018865:Dental Research / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012109:Research Support as Topic