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; howe ver, relatively little is known about general practitioners' (GPs') stated practices and attitudes towards research. This cross-sectional questionnair e study documents the attitudes and stated practices of general practitione rs towards undertaking and using research. Virtually all 249 (90%) GP respo nders felt that primary care research was important, while majorities expre ssed interest in research (61%), using research to directly influence pract ice (68%), and an interest in undertaking future research (53%). Perceived priorities for future primary care research are chronic illness, primary ca re organisation, and patient behaviour.