title: Research in general practice: a survey of incentives and disincentives for research participation.
abstract: Background Recruitment rates of general practitioners (GPs) to do research vary widely. This may be related to the ability of a study to incorporate incentives for GPs and minimise barriers to participation. Method A convenience sample of 30 GPs, ten each from the Sydney intervention and control groups Ageing in General Practice 'Detection and Management of Dementia' project (GP project) and 10 GPs who had refused participation, were recruited to determine incentives and barriers to participating in research. GPs completed the 11-item 'Meeting the challenges of research in general practice: general practitioner questionnaire' (GP survey) between months 15 and 24 of the GP project, and received brief qualitative interviews from a research GP to clarify responses where possible. Results The most important incentives the 30 GPs gave for participating in the project were a desire to update knowledge (endorsed by 70%), to help patients (70%), and altruism (60%). Lack of time (43%) was the main barrier. GPs also commented on excessive paperwork and an inadequate explanation of research. Conclusions While a desire to update knowledge and help patients as well as altruism were incentives, time burden was the primary barrier and was likely related to extensive paperwork. Future recruitment may be improved by minimising time burden, making studies simpler with online data entry, offering remuneration and using a GP recruiter.
authors.affiliation: Scientia Professor of Ageing and Mental Health; Director of Dementia, Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brodaty
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Academic Department in Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Louisa Hr
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Waine
authors.affiliation: Academic General Practitioner and Honorary Research Fellow.
authors.forename: Allan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shell
authors.affiliation: Administrative Officer Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lilian
authors.affiliation: Professor of General Practice, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Constance Dimity
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pond
keywords: general practitioner; recruitment; research