Turning problems into progress for primary care research trainees: a mixed-methods analysis of an online cross-sectional survey
AI Summary
Primary care research trainees face limited time, funding, mentorship, research skills and institutional barriers that hinder research alongside clinical demands.
Addressing barriers requires protected research time, structured mentorship, networking opportunities and equitable institutional support to sustain trainee research engagement.
Future research should identify trainee priorities and develop actionable, equity-focused strategies to support career development in primary care research.
Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 May 15;13:1786438. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1786438. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: As the field of primary care research continues to grow, it is increasingly important to address the concerns of our trainees. Trainees are central to workforce development and represent the future of the field. Identifying the specific needs and barriers they face in pursuing primary care research is essential to advancing the discipline.
METHODS: In this mixed-methods approach, we analyzed responses to an 33-item cross-sectional survey via REDCap. We performed quantitative analysis using RStudio for Windows (version 2025.05.1) and manually coded overarching themes in Microsoft Excel using an inductive thematic analysis approach.
FINDINGS: Sixty-nine survey responses were included in the quantitative analysis. A majority of responses were from allopathic medical (MD) students, representing 28.08% of respondents (n = 18), followed by medical residents (n = 17; 24.64%). We received responses from four countries: the United States (n = 45; 65.20%), Netherlands (n = 12; 17.40%), Canada (n = 11; 15.90%), and Uganda (n = 1; 1.40%). We analyzed 66 quotes from 29 participants using an inductive thematic approach, and uncovered nine overarching themes: (1) Guidance and Mentorship, (2) Networking, (3) Training, (4) Time, (5) Funding, (6) Resources, (7) Support, (8) Sustainability, and (9) Institutional Limitations.
CONCLUSION: Primary care research trainees face complex challenges such as limited time, funding, mentorship, and research skills, compounded by clinical demands and institutional barriers. Solutions include protected research time, structured mentorship, networking, and equitable institutional support. Future research should identify trainees’ priorities and develop actionable strategies to support primary care research trainees.
Omega (Westport). 2026 Jun 1:302228261455423. doi: 10.1177/00302228261455423. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThis study investigated the psychological processes linking death distress to flourishing within the context of...
Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2026 Jun 1;60(2):46. doi: 10.1007/s12124-026-10007-2.ABSTRACTChildcare facilities are a vital social infrastructure that supports children's development and enables parents to balance work...
Basic Clin Neurosci. 2026 Jan-Feb;17(1):39-51. doi: 10.32598/bcn.2026.324.6. Epub 2026 Jan 1.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Previous neuroimaging studies have rarely investigated hostility as a distinct cognitive-emotional dimension of aggression....
Front Public Health. 2026 May 15;14:1821179. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1821179. eCollection 2026.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Child maltreatment (CM) is a significant public health concern with long-term consequences for the child,...
Front Public Health. 2026 May 14;14:1851734. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1851734. eCollection 2026.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Workplace violence (WPV) is a pervasive occupational and public health concern affecting healthcare workers (HCWs)...
