Patient recruitment in primary care research

Abstract

Introduction: Patient recruitment in primary health research is often a protracted and frustrating process yet research guiding patient recruitment strategies in primary setting is limited. This paper addresses this void through a systematic review and how the systematic review informs the Wheatbelt Chronic Disease Management research projects. Method: Articles were sourced from five academic databases and snowball referencing. Inclusion criteria were papers published in English, reported empirical research, focused on interventions designed to increase patient recruitment in primary health care setting, and reported patient recruitment in primary setting. Results: 66 articles met the inclusion criteria. Effective recruitment strategies included the involvement of a discipline champion, simple patient eligibility criteria, patient incentives, and organisational strategies that reduce practitioner workload. Conclusion: The most effective recruitment in primary care research requires practitioner involvement.