Physician interest in collaborative research

A pilot study of more than 400 clinical faculty was conducted in spring 1985 by the Division of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, to identify physicians interested in participating in collaborative research. Six different approaches to collaborative research were defined, and the respondents indicated their "enthusiasm" to each of the approaches and the methodologies that each would involve. Based on response to mail and phone surveys, it is estimated that 40 percent of the clinical faculty have some interest in collaborative research. Their preferences for the approaches were: (1) randomized trials, 63 percent; (2) surveys of patients, 60 percent; (3) evaluation of physician practices, 59 percent; (4) referral of patients for research conducted elsewhere, 54 percent; (5) research involving chart review, 53 percent; and (6) research involving a change in clinical practice, 38 percent. Thus, there is preference for more complex types of studies, but this can create a dilemma for those who wish to stimulate research among unproven investigators.