Recruiting Practice-based Research Network (PBRN) physicians to be research participants: Lessons learned from the North Texas (NorTex) needs assessment study

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to examine strategies for recruiting physician subjects in a practice-based research network continuing education research study,using different recruitment methods at four systems,or health plan arrangements. methods: the north texas primary care practice-based research network needs assessment study consisted of a survey and five self-directed medical record abstractions. physicians were recruited to be research subjects from four systems,using different recruitment strategies. χ 2 was used to determine differences in physicians consenting and completing the study between systems. kruskal-wallis was used to determine differences in time from first contact to consent and number of contacts required before consent between systems. results: one hundred five of 211 physicians (49.8%) consented to participate,of which 90 (85.7%) completed the survey. there was a significant difference by system in the number of physicians who consented (p ∇ .04) and number of contacts required pre-consent (p < .001) but not in the number of physicians completing the study or time from first contact to consent. discussion/conclusions: success of recruiting physicians to be research subjects varied between systems using different recruitment methods. lessons learned include using clinician champions to make initial contact,establishing a relationship with clinic personnel,distinguishing the research team from a pharmaceutical representative,establishing a preferred contact method,and collecting study materials on a set timeline.