Key informants perspectives on creating a high impact research department in family and community medicine: a qualitative project

Abstract

Background: Primary care is integral to the health system and population health. Primary care research is still in development and most academic departments lack effective research investments. High impact primary care research programs are needed to advance the field to ensure a robust primary care system for the future. The project objective was to understand key informants' views of structures, functions, and processes required to create a high impact research program in an academic primary care department.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative project with key informants from research programs in primary care. Participants included international research leaders in primary care (n = 10), department of family and community researchers (n = 37) and staff (n = 9) in an academic primary care department, other university leaders (n = 3) and members of the departmental executive leadership team (1 department; 25 members). Semi-structured interviews (n = 27), and focus groups (n = 6) were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. We used a socioecological framework which described micro, meso, macro levels of influence.

Results: At the micro level despite barriers with respect to funding, protected time and lack of formal mentorship, personal motivation was a key factor. At the meso level, the organizational structure that promoted collaboration and a sense of connection emerged as a key factor. Specifically research leaders identified a research faculty development pipeline based on equity, diversity, inclusion, indigeneity, and accessibility principles with thematic areas of focus as key enablers. Lastly, at the macro level, an overarching culture and policies that promoted funding and primary care research was associated with high impact programs.

Conclusion: The alignment/complementarity of micro, meso, and macro level factors influenced the creation of a high impact research department in primary care. High impact research in primary care is facilitated by the development of researchers through formalized and structured mentorship/sponsorship and a department culture that promote primary care research.

Keywords: High impact research; Primary care; Qualitative; Socioecological framework.

Fig. 1

Sociological framework (adapted from Bronfenbrenner, 2005). Bronfenbrenner U. Making human beings human: bioecological perspectives on human development. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications; 2005. The project used a socio-ecological approach, adapted from Bronfenbrenner (2005), to explore factors that influence research capacity at the micro, meso and macro levels whereby micro refers to the individual; meso refers to Departmental and Hospital sites; and macro refers to national/provincial funding organizations and the overarching culture and policy environment