Evaluating the Designated Research Team Approach in Primary Care
Author Information
Author(s): Cooke Jo, Nancarrow Susan, Dyas Jane, Williams Martin
Primary Institution: Trent Research and Development Support Unit
Hypothesis
How effective is the Designated Research Team (DRT) approach in building research capacity in primary care settings?
Conclusion
The DRT approach was effective at building research capacity in supportive environments, particularly when team members had protected time for research.
Supporting Evidence
- The DRT approach was well aligned with principles of research capacity building.
- Teams that received support were able to develop skills and collaborations.
- Protected time for research was crucial for the success of the DRT approach.
- At least one member from each team continued research after funding ended.
- Four out of six teams secured additional funding after the DRT initiative.
Takeaway
This study looked at how a special team approach helped doctors and nurses learn to do research better, which can help improve patient care.
Methodology
The study evaluated six clinical research teams using process and outcome data to assess the effectiveness of the DRT approach based on a framework of six principles for research capacity building.
Potential Biases
The selection of teams was based on their enthusiasm for research, which may not represent all primary care settings.
Limitations
Some teams struggled to develop research projects, and the evaluation relied on retrospective views of coordinators, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Teams included general practitioners, nurses, social workers, and pharmacists from various primary care settings.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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