Insights into general practice research in The Netherlands and Germany: methodological challenges and suggestions

BACKGROUND: We conducted research on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections in general practices in the Northern Dutch-German cross-border region. The challenges that were encountered in that study are discussed in this article, including prolonged formal ethical and legal processes, data collection, and recruitment of both general practitioners (GPs) and patients. AIM: To provide recommendations for those in the early stages of planning and conducting research in general practices. DESIGN & SETTING: Opinion paper based on the authors' experience conducting a cross-border prospective study. METHOD: An overview of the strategies used to collect data and recruit participants is presented, along with their respective advantages and disadvantages. RESULTS: GPs were recruited by post, email, and newsletters, with varying success rates depending on the region. Overall, personal approaches fared better, leading to increased willingness to participate in the study. Two different measures were used to collect data: students in The Netherlands and practice assistants in Germany. While using student assistants alleviated the constraints associated with study participation for a general practice, their limited availability disrupted the continuity of data collection phases. Instructing practice assistants to collect data independently enhanced flexibility regarding patient recruitment, but the authors' experience revealed that this approach was more prone to errors, likely as a result of heavy workloads. Designating a contact person within the practice facilitated communication between the practice and the researchers, providing reminders for ongoing study recruitment. CONCLUSION: With research in general practice becoming increasingly important, it is necessary to illustrate and understand its barriers and facilitators. Data collection strategies have to be carefully assessed and selected according to the specific needs of practices (such as flexibility and time constraints) to mitigate disruption of regular care.