Abstract
BackgroundPrimary care plays an important role in the conception and delivery of transformational research but GP engagement is lacking, prompting calls for the promotion of academic opportunities in primary care.AimTo identify potential barriers and facilitators among GP trainees and trainers in primary care research to inform support given by Local Clinical Research Networks (LCRNs).Design & settingA cross-sectional online survey was developed and distributed by the CRN to GP trainees and trainers in the North East and North West.MethodThe survey covered areas including demographics, career intentions, current and potential engagement with research, as well as their general understanding of research in primary care, which included barriers and facilitators to primary care research.ResultsTrainees had low intentionality to pursue research and half of trainees did not engage with any research activity. Despite one in five trainees reporting intentions to include research in their career, only 1% would undertake a solely academic career. Medical school region was the only strongly associated factor with academic career intention. Just under 30% of trainers reported engagement in research, but far fewer (8.6%) were interested in contributing to research, and only 10% felt prepared to mentor in research.ConclusionAmong trainees, there is limited engagement in and intentionality to pursue research, and this was crucially reflected by responses from trainers. This study identified the need for LCRNs to assist with training in research mentoring and skills, funding opportunities, and to develop resources to promote research in primary care.
Highlights
General Practice provides more than 300 million patient consultations each year [1]
Among trainees, there is limited engagement in, and intentionality to pursue research and this is crucially reflected by responses from trainers
This study identifies the need for Local Clinical Research Networks (LCRNs)’s to assist with training in research mentoring and skills, funding opportunities and to develop resources to promote research in primary care
Summary
General Practice provides more than 300 million patient consultations each year [1]. Primary care can play a significant role in the delivery of transformational clinical research, most recently evidenced by the PRINCIPLE public health study, a platform trial designed to evaluate treatments to improve recovery and reduce hospitalisation from COVID.The UK is a leader for primary care research in volume and citation rates of papers produced when compared to international colleagues [2] and research in general practice is an established discipline. The Cumbria and North East Primary Care Strategy recommends building capacity and capability for research through exposing medical students and GP trainees to primary care research and LCRN delivery to develop future research leaders [3]. The CRN NENC is in the top 5 LCRN’s in terms of percentage of GP Practices recruiting to clinical trials but within the region there is variation in Primary care research activity. This variation, and declining patient recruitment figures, is compounded by a lack of academic opportunities for GPs, a rapidly changing landscape of primary care provision, increasing workload, transfer of work from secondary care and inadequate research funding. The Royal College of General Practitioners has called for increased academic activity by developing research capability in general practice including the pursuit of research about general practice on consultation patterns or the approach to management and treatment of complex needs [5]
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