title: Provider's perspectives on building research and quality improvement capacity in primary care: a strategy to improve workforce satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Safety-net populations are underrepresented in research and quality improvement (QI) studies despite the fact that safety-net providers are uniquely positioned to engage in translational research. This study aimed to understand the current level of interest in, experience with, predicted career satisfaction associated with, and barriers experienced in conducting research and QI among primary care providers (PCPs) at 18 safety-net practices in the Boston, Massachusetts area.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Harvard Catalyst Safety-net Infrastructure Initiative partnered with staff at a large academic public hospital system, including 15 primary care sites, to develop and administer an online survey. This survey was then adapted and administered at three other academically affiliated community health centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 260 providers surveyed, 136 (52%) responded. Nearly 80% reported interest in conducting either QI projects or clinical research and 95% of them believed it would enhance their career satisfaction. However, 63% did not report prior experience or training in research or QI and 93% reported at least one barrier to engagement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While supporting safety-net PCPs' engagement in research and/or QI may improve career satisfaction there are numerous barriers that must be addressed to achieve this goal.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zallman
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tendulkar
authors.forename: Nazmim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhuyia
authors.forename: Blessing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dube
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Early
authors.forename: Melida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arredondo
authors.forename: Rozanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puleo
authors.forename: Nandini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alsan
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hacker
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards*; D012106:Research / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*
keywords: evidence-based medicine; outcomes research; translational research