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A qualitative study exploring practice nurses’ experience of participating in a primary care–based randomised controlled trial

Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

Jeremy Dale

Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

Isabela Caramlau

Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the views of practice nurses’ recruiting into a primary care–based randomised controlled trial, and to investigate factors that influence the success of trial recruitment. It is known that time pressures, forgetfulness and lack of interest in the research topic negatively influence recruitment into research trials by General Practitioners (GPs), but no studies appear to have explored practice nurses’ experience of recruiting into trials. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a non-random purposive sample of 10 practice nurses who had participated in recruiting patients for the trial, and data were analysed using a thematic framework approach. Nurses who had been asked to take part in the study found it a positive experience, and had decided to take part because the area of research was of interest and could potentially benefit patients. Nurses who had been delegated the role of recruitment by the GP felt put upon and recruited less well. None of the nurses reported difficulties remembering to recruit patients and developed useful strategies to aid memory. Nurses often acted as gatekeepers, selecting which patients they offered the intervention to. Nurses with dedicated time for research recruited more successfully. For nurses who recruited during routine consultation, it was often the patient’s lack of interest in taking part in the trial, rather than time limitations that hindered recruitment. Overall, nurses were positive about recruiting into the trial, particularly if the research area could benefit patients and if directly asked to take part.

Key Words: attitudes • practice nursing • primary care • randomised controlled trials • trial recruitment

Journal of Research in Nursing, Vol. 14, No. 5, 439-447 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1744987108098228


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