title: Preventing the voltage drop: keeping practice-based research network (PBRN) practices engaged in studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Practice-based research continues to evolve and has become a major methodology for many pragmatic studies. While early practice-based network projects were usually short term, current studies often introduce or compare practice innovations that require long-term evaluation. That change requires that practice sites remain engaged in research work for up to 5 years, a time that can allow for a significant "voltage drop," or decline in active participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over the past 15 years we have developed and adapted several strategies to facilitate and encourage the continued active engagement of practices in practice-based research network studies of up to 5 years' duration. The concepts, details, evaluation, and results (when available) of the strategies are described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight strategies that enhance practice sites' attention to enrollment, data collection and continued use of the implemented practice change are described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The loss of momentum, or "voltage drop," that happens in longer-term practice-based research network studies can be addressed using multiple strategies.
authors.affiliation: the Department of Research, Olmsted Medical Center, Rochester, MN; the National Research Network, American Academy of Family Physicians, Leawood, KS; and the Dartmouth Medical Center, Dartmouth, NH.
authors.forename: Barbara P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Yawn
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.forename: Marge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurland
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madison
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Littlefield
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smail
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pace
mesh_terms: D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D064792:Pragmatic Clinical Trials as Topic; D013663:Teaching
keywords: Methods; Practice-based Research Network; Program Effectiveness; Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials; Training