RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Systematic Process for Recruiting Physician-Patient Dyads in Practice-based Research Networks (PBRNs)
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 740
OP 749
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2014.06.140035
VO 27
IS 6
A1 Hubert Robitaille
A1 France Légaré
A1 Ghislaine Tre
YR 2014
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/27/6/740.abstract
AB Background: Recruiting physicians and patients for primary care research is difficult, and low participation can greatly affect the validity of research. While practice-based research networks (PBRNs) offer advantages of scale for recruitment, the barriers are perennial. We designed a systematic process for recruiting physician–patient dyads in PBRNs and tested it in EXACKTE2, a large, cross-sectional, dyadic study. Methods: Based on known barriers, we designed a systematic process for recruiting dyads of family physicians and their patients and implemented it in 2 primary care practice-based research networks in Canada: one in Ontario (11 practices) and one in Quebec (6 practices). Dyads (one physician with one patient) were recruited simultaneously to explore their mutual influence during consultations. A key element of the process was a research assistant assigned to each practice. This person closely accompanied the recruitment process, liaising with staff and taking charge of interviews, questionnaires, and follow-up. Results: In total, 276 physicians and patients were recruited in 17 primary care practices in 2 primary care networks in Ontario and Quebec, representing a participation rate of more than 72% of eligible physicians and more than 64% of eligible patients. Conclusion: We established a systematic process to conduct successful dyadic recruitment of physicians and patients in PBRNs.