Characteristics of nurse practitioners interested in participating in a practice-based research network.
OBJECTIVE
Practice-based Research Networks (PBRNs) have emerged as key laboratories for generating new knowledge that reflects community-based practice; however, the representativeness of nurse practitioners (NPs) interested in PBRN participation is not known. This study describes characteristics of NP members interested in participating in a regional PBRN in comparison with state and national data.


METHODS
All 1016 NPs in northeast (NE) Ohio were surveyed by mail and Internet. The survey captured NP demographics, practice characteristics, and gauged interest in participating in future PBRN studies. Survey respondent's data were compared with Ohio and national data obtained from the 2004 AANP National Nurse Practitioner Sample Survey.


CONCLUSIONS
NE Ohio NPs were similar to an Ohio and national sample of NPs. Northeast Ohio NPs practicing in ambulatory settings who were interested in participating in subsequent PBRN studies were not significantly different from non-interested NPs.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs interested in participation in a PBRN appear to be representative of the NE Ohio population of ambulatory practice NPs and are similar demographically to a national sample of NPs. Findings from studies conducted in the NE Ohio PBRN may generalize to other NPs practicing in the region and across the country.
Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. sweyer@malone.edu
Sharon M
SM
Weyer
James J
JJ
Werner
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009820:Ohio; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires