title: Recruitment of general practices: Is a standardised approach helpful in the involvement of healthcare professionals in research?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health service research often involves the active participation of healthcare professionals. However, their ability and commitment to research varies. This can cause recruitment difficulties and thereby prolong the study period and inflate budgets. Solberg has identified seven R-factors as determinants for successfully recruiting healthcare professionals: relationships, reputation, requirements, rewards, reciprocity, resolution, and respect.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a process evaluation of the seven R-factors. We applied these factors to guide the design of our recruitment strategy as well as to make adjustments when recruiting general practices in a guideline implementation study. In the guideline implementation study, we studied the effect of outreach visits, quality reports, and new patient stratification tools for low back pain patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a period of 15 months, we recruited 60 practices, which was fewer than planned (100 practices). In this evaluation, five of Solberg's seven R-factors were successfully addressed and two factors were not. The need to involve (reciprocity) end users in the development of new software and the amount of time needed to conduct recruitment (resolution) were underestimated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The framework of the seven R-factors was a feasible tool in our recruitment process. However, we suggest further investigation in developing systematic approaches to support the recruitment of healthcare professionals to research.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riis
authors.affiliation: Danish Center for Health Care Improvements, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Cathrine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Helle T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Maindal
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bro
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jensen
keywords: Research methods; general practice; low back pain; process evaluation; research subject recruitment