PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Barbara P. Yawn
AU  - Allen Dietrich
AU  - Deborah Graham
AU  - Susan Bertram
AU  - Marge Kurland
AU  - Suzanne Madison
AU  - Dawn Littlefield
AU  - Brian Manning
AU  - Craig Smail
AU  - Wilson Pace
TI  - Preventing the Voltage Drop: Keeping Practice-based Research Network (PBRN) Practices Engaged in Studies
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.2014.01.130026
DP  - 2014 Jan 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
PG  - 123--135
VI  - 27
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/27/1/123.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/27/1/123.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2014 Jan 01; 27
AB  - Introduction: Practice-based research continues to evolve and has become a major methodology for many pragmatic studies. While early practice-based network projects were usually short term, current studies often introduce or compare practice innovations that require long-term evaluation. That change requires that practice sites remain engaged in research work for up to 5 years, a time that can allow for a significant “voltage drop,” or decline in active participation. Methods: Over the past 15 years we have developed and adapted several strategies to facilitate and encourage the continued active engagement of practices in practice-based research network studies of up to 5 years' duration. The concepts, details, evaluation, and results (when available) of the strategies are described. Results: Eight strategies that enhance practice sites' attention to enrollment, data collection and continued use of the implemented practice change are described. Conclusion: The loss of momentum, or “voltage drop,” that happens in longer-term practice-based research network studies can be addressed using multiple strategies.