title: Recruiting children onto research studies by the Scottish Primary Care Research Network: a real team effort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recruiting for research studies is always a challenge, particularly in paediatric studies. Here we report on experiences recruiting children to five studies through primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Scottish Primary Care Research Network (SPCRN) has approval to  identify for research studies eligible participants on primary care practice lists. The number of potential participants and the proportion recruited onto five paediatric studies are provided along with factors involved in recruiting practices and patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4910  individuals were recruited, of whom 367 (7%) participated. Recruitment of practices varied between 7 and 44% for different studies. There was evidence that practices who had participated in previous studies were more likely to participate again. Patient participation was positively related  to affluence and there was evidence that adults were more likely to participate than children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the pressing clinical workload in primary care, many general practices are still able to make accommodation for research activity. What is required is effective communication  between colleagues in primary care, researchers, the SPCRN and patients. Given that the majority of medicine is practiced in primary care, there is a desire for evidence-based medicine to be generated from primary care and the SPCRN and other networks can help to provide this.
authors: Scottish Primary Care Research Network, Grampian, UK.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Cardy
authors: Sam
authors: S
authors: Holden
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Watson
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Nelson
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Turner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D010372:Pediatrics; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012606:Scotland; D055815:Young Adult