Creating a research culture: what we can learn from residencies that are successful in research

Despite a growing need for family practice to contribute to the national primary care research agenda, the specialty is ill-equipped to assume a more active role. Information about residency programs that are successful in research is a valuable resource for increasing family medicine's research capacity.

A three-stage investigation was completed in May 1996, consisting of 1) a telephone survey of family practice residency program directors, 2) a mail survey of recent graduates from relatively successful programs identified in stage 1, and 3) in-depth interviews with the program directors or research directors identified by combining data from the first two stages.

Most residents in the programs included in stage 2 completed a research project (68.7%) and currently have an interest in practice-based research (57.2%). Residents from programs selected for the study's final stage were more likely to have published a research article (32% versus 20.3%) and to have completed a project while a resident (81% versus 60.1%) than those from the programs not selected. Virtually unanimous characteristics of successful programs include program director support of research, time for research, faculty involvement, a research curriculum, professional support, and opportunities for presenting research.

Individual family practice residencies can be considered to be at one of three levels with respect to their level of research activity: 1) relatively undeveloped, 2) developing, or 3) relatively developed. Programs can expect successful results if they make research a priority, and means are needed for communicating successful strategies between programs.