Residency Scholarship Within Practice-based Research Networks

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Finding scholarship opportunities is a common struggle for family medicine residency programs, especially community-based programs. Participation in practice-based research networks (PBRNs) has been suggested as one option, but little is known about resident engagement in PBRNs. This study explores how PBRNs are currently involving family medicine residency programs and whether there are additional opportunities for engagement. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 126 primary care PBRN directors regarding residency program involvement in PBRN governance and scholarly activity. We used descriptive statistics to characterize our sample and bivariate analyses to assess association between involvement of residency programs in PBRNs and PBRN characteristics. Results: Most responding PBRNs (N=56, 44.4% response rate) included at least one residency program (80%) and many had residency faculty involved in projects (67.3%), though involvement of residents was less common (52.7%). When involved, residents were part of fewer projects but participated in the full range of research activities. Few PBRNs had deeper engagement with residencies such as written goals specifying their inclusion in projects (23.6%) or residency faculty participation in the PBRN’s governing body (45.5%). Most PBRNs not currently involving residents are interested in doing so (73.9%), and half of these have the resources to do this. Conclusions: Most family medicine and primary care PBRNs have some involvement with residency programs, usually at the faculty level. Building on current PBRN involvement and making connections between local PBRNs and residency programs where none exist represents an excellent opportunity for education and for growing the research capacity of the discipline.

Overcoming Barriers to Research Competency: a nationwide mixed-method study on residency training in the field of Korean medicine

“…Lack of time and knowledge emerged as the primary barriers, consistent with previous studies [ 17 , 18 ]. Competence was identified as a key motivational factor, aligning with the findings of previous studies [ 19 , 20 ]. Focused knowledge delivery through educational programs, guidebooks [ 21 ], and accessible online and offline formats within training hospitals is essential.…”

Development of a Culture of Scholarship: The Impact of a Structured Roadmap for Scholarly Activity in Family Medicine Residency Program

“…National survey from 2011 looked at different factors [7]. Anecdotally, it is thought that residencies in a community hospital may have difficulty fulfilling these requirements as compared to tertiary care academic centers [5,8]. In community hospitals participation in practice based research network (PBRN) has been studied as one option by Weidner A et al for residents [8].…”

“…Anecdotally, it is thought that residencies in a community hospital may have difficulty fulfilling these requirements as compared to tertiary care academic centers [5,8]. In community hospitals participation in practice based research network (PBRN) has been studied as one option by Weidner A et al for residents [8]. In places where residents were involved in research projects with PBRN, the residents generate research questions, study design, analyze data and help with manuscript writing, though the study found more residency faculty involvement than residents in PBRN and proposes it as an excellent opportunity for residents education and scholarly activity [8].…”

Increasing Research in Residency: The Elusive Goal

“…4 The article by Weidner et al in this issue of Family Medicine revisits this goal by focusing on the role that practice-based research networks (PBRNs) can play in building resident research, particularly in community-based programs. 5 Are PBRNs the answer to building resident research? They can provide opportunities for residents to participate in research.…”

“…In fact, the study by Weidner about PBRNs wasn't really a PBRN study, but was actually a survey using the CERA infrastructure. 5 Including a resident in a project like this would be a great leveraging of infrastructure with an idea in a project that could be done in a matter of months.…”