Research policies and practices in family practice residencies

A questionnaire survey of all US family practice residency programs was undertaken to gather information pertaining to the policies and practices of resident research projects. Eight-one percent of the programs responded. The majority of the programs which responded require or encourage research by their residents. Cross-tabulations of the data relate several characteristics of residency programs to their positions on resident research. University based or affiliated/administered programs, programs with fewer residents and larger faculties, and programs in the faculty are engaged in research tend to encourage or require research by residents although these findings are not consistent. Information is also presented pertaining to financing resident research, preparing residents for conducting research, and disseminating the results of residents' projects.