What are the attitudes of general practitioners towards research?

There is an urgent need for high quality primary care research to provide a firm scientific basis for a primary care-led National Health Service; however, relatively little is known about general practitioners' (GPs') stated practices and attitudes towards research. This cross-sectional questionnaire study documents the attitudes and stated practices of general practitioners towards undertaking and using research. Virtually all 249 (90%) GP responders felt that primary care research was important, while majorities expressed interest in research (61%), using research to directly influence practice (68%), and an interest in undertaking future research (53%). Perceived priorities for future primary care research are chronic illness, primary care organisation, and patient behaviour.