An evaluation of a training programme in primary care research for general dental practitioners

Aims To determine whether general dental practitioners would find seminars on research methods in primary care research of interest and whether they would be stimulated to plan their own research. Method Questionnaire with both open and dosed questions distributed to participants at the end of the seminars. 10 seminars in locations throughout the north west of England were planned. Results 98 dentists attended the seminars of whom 81 returned questionnaires, giving a response rate of 82.6%. More than 60% found the seminars and the specially developed teaching manual very useful. However there was somewhat less enthusiasm for undertaking research projects. Conclusions The findings suggest that some GDPs are interested in primary care research but are not keen to initiate or plan research themselves.