Table 3.

Characteristics of Research Governance and Studies Reported by Primary Care PBRNs

CharacteristicPBRNs No. (%)
PBRN = practice-based research network; IRB = institutional review board.
All practices covered by IRB (n = 84 reporting)
    No14 (17)
    Yes – single IRB28 (33)
    Yes – multiple IRBs39 (46)
    Unsure3 (4)
No. of separate IRBs covering the practices (n=23 reporting)
    1–513 (57)
    6–205 (22)
    20+1 (4)
    Unsure4 (17)
Single source for human subjects certification (n=43 reporting)
    Yes25 (58)
    No14 (33)
    Unknown4 (9)
PBRNs with research experience (n = 85 reporting)
    Active study now, never in past4 (5)
    Active study now and at least 1 prior study45 (53)
    At least 1 prior study, but none now21 (25)
    Neither an active study nor prior study12 (14)
No. of studies completed (n = 56 reporting)
    No studies completed15 (27)
    1–3 studies completed17 (30)
    4–7 studies completed17 (30)
    >7 studies completed11 (20)
No. of subjects in largest study (n = 46 reporting recruiting patients into a study)
    1–1008 (17)
    101–50016 (35)
    501–1,0002 (4)
    >1,00020 (43)
Persons who recruited subjects in past research (n = 85 reporting) (multiple responses allowed)
    Clinician40 (47)
    Study’s research assistant37 (44)
    Practice’s research assistant35 (41)
    Practice nurse24 (28)
    Practice clerk11 (13)
    Other13 (15)