[Research training for all physicians--also outside university hospitals. Evaluation of a course in basic research...

General practitioners are often interested in doing research but are hampered by lack of time and research training. Interpreting the results of others can also be difficult. For this reason a course in basic research methods for GPs was started in Sweden in 1989. It was originally aimed at GPs but was later extended to hospital physicians as well. The course is given regionally and at present is held in six different locations in southern Sweden as well as in Hillerød, Denmark. The aim of this study is to evaluate the course as part of a research project to recommend changes to the courses in accordance with the course evaluations.

The course consists of theory (lectures/seminars six hours a month) and practice (project work) over a period of 18 months. Questionnaires were mailed to the 112 physicians who, starting in 1997 and 1999, completed the course. Eighty-five percent responded to the questionnaire, which asked if the course goals were relevant and if they thought they had achieved them.

The most frequent reasons given for attending the course were a desire to learn how to read scientific articles critically and how to carry out one's own research projects. Two thirds of the participants thought that the theoretical lectures and project work had supplemented each other well. Most of the participants thought that the goals were very relevant but fewer--between 57% and 77%--felt those goals had been achieved.

The course provides important empirical information with regard to future specialist training in Denmark. The plan is for all physicians to have research training--amounting to a total of 60 days--with lectures in research methodology and tutored research projects. The Danish College of General Practitioners has planned research training in accordance with the experience from these courses.