Attitudes of primary healthcare chief physicians towards research in Finland – a national study

Abstract

Objective

To illustrate the views of chief physicians in Finnish primary healthcare health centres (HCs) on the existing research capacity of their centres, their attitudes to practice-based research network activity, and research topics of interest to them.

Design

A cross-sectional survey study.

Setting

Finnish HCs.

Subjects

Chief physicians in Finnish HCs.

Main outcome measures

We used a questionnaire that included five-point Likert scales and multiple choice and open-ended questions to identify the chief physician’s profile, the HC content, the attitudes of chief physicians towards engagement in research, research topics of interest to them, and factors that may influence their motivation. Descriptive methods were used for the analysis of the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were processed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

There was a relatively good representation of all hospital districts. One-third of HCs had at least one person doing research, and 61% of chief physicians would support research in their setting. Their stimulus for research was primarily testing new therapies, protocols, and care processes, as well as effectiveness and healthcare improvement. The expected benefits that motivate engagement in Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are evidence-based practice and raised professional capacity and profile of the HC.

Conclusions

Chief physicians regard research as an elementary part of the development of primary care practices and health policy. Their motivation to engage in PBRN activity is determined by the relevance of the research to their interests and the management of competing priorities and resource limitations.

KEY POINTS

•  The chief physicians of the Finnish primary healthcare centres (HCs) recognize the value of practice-based research and are motivated to participate in practice-based research network activity if:

•  • The research topics are relevant to their interests and problems encountered at their HC;

•  • The research activity entails tangible benefits for their HC, such as evidence-based practice and improvement, an increase in professional competence, or an improvement in HC image;

•  • It is possible to cope with competing priorities and resource limitations.

Keywords:

• Practice-based Research Network
• primary care
• general practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by State Research Funding (Valtion tutkimusrahoitus-VTR) funding for TAYS-ERVA [Project number: 9AB109]