General practitioners’ willingness to participate in research networks in Germany

Abstract

Objectives

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 POINTS

• 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.

Keywords:

• General practice
• primary health care
• community-based participatory research
• research network
• financial compensation

Acknowledgements

We thank all GPs who supported our study by completing the questionnaire. Furthermore, we thank BS for her support in coordinating the questionnaire survey, as well as SL, DB and DN for critically reading our manuscript.

Ethical approval

According to the regulations of the ethics committee of the University of Halle-Wittenberg, an explicit ethical approval for the survey was not necessary as the questionnaire collected anonymized data. All participants were informed about the study by a formal cover letter explaining the background of our research, and the anonymized and statistically aggregated analysis of all data (not allowing personal identification). Participation in the study was completely voluntary. Completing and returning the questionnaire was interpreted as informed consent to take part in our study. The study is registered with DRKS (DRKS00025364).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data may be obtained from the authors upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health [funding codes: 01GK1905A, 01GK1905B, 01GK1905C].