[The factors related to the research activities of primary care physicians].

OBJECTIVE

To find the factors related with the research activities of primary care (PC) doctors in Catalonia, especially their motivation and the obstacles to research perceived by the doctors themselves.

DESIGN

An observational, crossover study.

SETTING

Primary care doctors in Catalonia.

PARTICIPANTS

The number of doctors (1,286) was divided into two: a) doctors who had published between 1989 and 1994 (n = 146), b) doctors who had not published.

INTERVENTIONS

A survey concerning personal and workplace variables was carried out by post.

RESULTS

The reply percentage was 49.5% (63.7% among those who had published and 44.85% among those who had not). The multivariant analysis showed a significant link between publishing and postgraduate residence training (MIR), the fact of working in a teaching centre and working in a centre with more than ten doctors.

CONCLUSIONS

Research is close related to postgraduate residence training (MIR), work in a teaching unit and PC centres with over ten doctors. Care load, lack of time and difficulty in getting financing were the main obstacles to research given by the doctors polled.