Factors affecting general practitioner involvement in a randomised controlled trial in primary care

Aims. To investigate factors associated with patient recruitment by general practitioners (GPs) in a randomised controlled trial in primary care. Methods. Cross sectional survey of 100 GPs who had agreed to recruit patients for a randomised controlled trial. A postal questionnaire was sent to the 100 GPs to collect information on factors associated with recruitment in the randomised controlled trial. Results. The response rate to the survey was 97%. GPs who reported that practice nurses were involved in the research project were significantly more likely to recruit patients into the trial. Age, sex, membership of an independent practitioner association (IPA), number of half days worked, and the number of GPs working in a practice were not associated with recruitment. Conclusions. Involvement of practice nurses together with GPs may improve recruitment of patients in randomised controlled trials in primary care in New Zealand.