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AbstractObjectives To investigate general practitioners’ (GPs’) willingness to participate in long-term medical research and in research networks (RNs).Design and setting Cross-sectional survey among German GPs around Halle-Wittenberg and Leipzig in 2020.Subjects Random sample of 905 GPs.Main outcome measures and results Response rate 37%, 69% female. Overall, 57% were interested in participating in medical research, 34% in an active role in a RN. Interest in RN participation was positively associated with male sex, younger age, previous experiences in medical research, being involved in teaching undergraduates, and having qualification in a further specialty. Main motivators were improving patient care, giving a more realistic picture of GP care, and carrying out research on topics within their own interest areas and a reliable contact person at the leading institution. Most GPs were not afraid of reduced earnings; however, time investment was the main barrier for participation. GPs were willing to dedicate twice as much time to research when remuneration was offered. High rated topics were polypharmacy, chronic diseases, drug safety and adverse drug reactions.Conclusion GPs are interested to participate in practice-based research. The study results providing useful and generalizable insights in barriers and motivators should be considered when building and running GP-RNs.KEY POINTSThere is a difference between general practitioners’ (GPs’) overall interest in clinical research and their job and socio-demographic related readiness to participate in research networks (RNs).GPs are interested in RNs when it is a resource of and leading to enhanced patient-oriented care.GPs are willing to dedicate twice as much time to research when remunerated.GPs need a reliable counterpart within the leading institution.

To investigate general practitioners' (GPs') willingness to participate in long-term medical research and in research networks (RNs). Cross-sectional survey among German GPs around Halle-Wittenberg and Leipzig in 2020. Random sample of 905 GPs. Response rate 37%, 69% female. Overall, 57% were interested in participating in medical research, 34% in an active role in a RN. Interest in RN participation was positively associated with male sex, younger age, previous experiences in medical research, being involved in teaching undergraduates, and having qualification in a further specialty. Main motivators were improving patient care, giving a more realistic picture of GP care, and carrying out research on topics within their own interest areas and a reliable contact person at the leading institution. Most GPs were not afraid of reduced earnings; however, time investment was the main barrier for participation. GPs were willing to dedicate twice as much time to research when remuneration was offered. High rated topics were polypharmacy, chronic diseases, drug safety and adverse drug reactions. GPs are interested to participate in practice-based research. The study results providing useful and generalizable insights in barriers and motivators should be considered when building and running GP-RNs. There is a difference between general practitioners' (GPs') overall interest in clinical research and their job and socio-demographic related readiness to participate in research networks (RNs). GPs are interested in RNs when it is a resource of and leading to enhanced patient-oriented care. GPs are willing to dedicate twice as much time to research when remunerated. GPs need a reliable counterpart within the leading institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To document family medicine research in the 25 EGPRN member countries in 2010. Design. Semi-structured survey with open-ended questions. Setting. Academic family medicine in 23 European countries, Israel, and Turkey. Subjects. 25 EGPRN national representatives. Main outcome measures. Demographics of the general population and family medicine. Assessments, opinions, and suggestions. Results. EGPRN has represented family medicine for almost half a billion people and > 300 000 general practitioners (GPs). Turkey had the largest number of family medicine departments and highest density of GPs, 2.1/1000 people, Belgium had 1.7, Austria 1.6, and France 1.5. Lowest GP density was reported from Israel 0.17, Greece 0.18, and Slovenia 0.4 GPs per 1000 people. Family medicine research networks were reported by 22 of 25 and undergraduate family medicine research education in 20 of the 25 member countries, and in 10 countries students were required to do research projects. Postgraduate family medicine research was reported by 18 of the member countries. Open-ended responses showed that EGPRN meetings promoted stimulating and interesting research questions such as comparative studies of chronic pain management, sleep disorders, elderly care, healthy lifestyle promotion, mental health, clinical competence, and appropriateness of specialist referrals. Many respondents reported a lack of interest in family medicine research related to poor incentives and low family medicine status in general and among medical students in particular. It was suggested that EGPRN exert political lobbying for family medicine research. Conclusion. Since 1974, EGPRN organizes biannual conferences that unite and promote primary care practice, clinical research and academic family medicine in 25 member countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]