The sustainability of practice-based research networks across the globe - insights from a worldwide qualitative study

PBRNs emerged from partnerships between academics and primary care practitioners and functioned as primary care "laboratories". In two previous scoping literature reviews, we presented the facilitators and barriers to building PBRNs linked to their internal and external environments. This article presents key insights from interviews with PBRN leaders worldwide about the sustainability of their networks.

We used the consultation exercise component of the scoping review methodology to generate complementary/additional results to our previous studies. We conducted 56 semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of PBRN leaders using the contact information included in our earlier scoping reviews. We then expanded the sample to achieve balance and saturation in terms of PBRN developmental stage maturity, structure, focus, governance and involvement of other stakeholders. We applied inductive thematic analysis to 55 interviews (one was inaudible) and derived key elements, subthemes, and main themes from the codes.

The overarching thematic framework yielded 4 main themes, 18 subthemes, and 72 key elements. Main themes were Internal Environment, Stakeholders at the Intersection between the Internal and External Environment, the Impact and Value of PBRNs, and the External Environment. We found that PBRN leaders associated network sustainability with sufficient infrastructural support, collaborative relationships, a learning team environment culture, and agile management. They also considered that support and advocacy from organisations with global influence was essential for their sustainability. They also indicated that PBRNs have a positive impact on academic faculty, clinician education, primary care practice, community health and healthcare policy.

While PBRNs have found various ways to develop and thrive and have influenced the primary care field, there remains a strong need for strategic development of network relationships, research portfolios, stable infrastructure support and intensified advocacy to further consolidate their role within the broader healthcare landscape nationally and globally.