Effects of funding family physicians for advanced research training

Background and Objectives: Beginning in 1998, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) initiated a 4-year-funded Advanced Research Training (ART) program to increase the number of family medicine researchers in the United States. This study describes the extent to which ART recipients achieved the objectives they had set for themselves, barriers to achieving their objectives, and changes in their research capacity as reported by themselves and as observed by colleagues. Methods: We gathered data by examining 28 awardees' applications and semiannual reports, questionnaires sent to awardees, and reports from awardees' colleagues. Results: Only 13 recipients (48%) filed final reports. For awardees in the first two cohorts, the percentage of awardees who achieved their objectives ranged from 50% to 76%. Having only 2 years of funding, lacking sufficient protected time, and inadequate resources were cited as barriers to research productivity. Awardees' colleagues reported that awardees have improved research skills, improved grant and publication writing ability, and greater leadership skills. Conclusions: Fewer than half of awardees submitted reports at the end of the project to report on their achievements. Of those who did, research capacity was strengthened as a result of receiving an ART award. Barriers may have prevented the majority of awardees from achieving their objectives and completing their reports.