caa a22 4500 397499515 CHVBK 20180308164529.0 cr unu---uuuuu 161202e199506 xx s 000 0 eng 10.1093/fampra/12.2.227 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)oxford-10.1093/fampra/12.2.227 Reducing systematic bias in studies of general practitioners: the use of a medical peer in the recruitment of general practitioners in research [Elektronische Daten] [Alison Heywood, Peter Mudge, Ian Ring, Rob Sanson-Fisher] Reducing systematic bias in any group of study participants should be a priority of any researcher. This can be achieved by ensuring the sampling framework is adequate and by increasing response rates. Response rates in studies of general practitioners have to date tended to be low. Generalization of results to the wider population of GPs is therefore reduced. This paper systematically examines those factors which can reduce bias, recognising accurate identification of the target population, gaining good access to respondents, and maximising response rates as crucial factors. The importance of a medical peer in recruitment is examined. Applying these factors to a study situation, three different recruitment strategies were tested. As the strategy improved, there was an incremental improvement in the response rate (44%, 67%, 78%). These results indicate that by specifically addressing strategies which facilitate access to the target population, and increase the legitimacy and credibility of the study, significant improvements in response rates can be achieved. © Oxford University Press Academic family practice nationallicence Heywood Alison Epidemiology and Health Information Branch, Queensland Health GPO Box 48, Brisbane, Q1d 4001, Australia aut Mudge Peter North Queensland Clinical School, University of Queensland PO Box 1805, Townsville, Q1d 4810, Australia aut Ring Ian Epidemiology and Health Information Branch, Queensland Health GPO Box 48, Brisbane, Q1d 4001, Australia aut Sanson-Fisher Rob Hunter Centre for Health Advancement Locked Bag 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia aut Family Practice Oxford University Press 12/2(1995-06), 227-231 0263-2136 12:2<227 1995 12 famprj https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/12.2.227 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/12.2.227 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Heywood Alison Epidemiology and Health Information Branch, Queensland Health GPO Box 48, Brisbane, Q1d 4001, Australia aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Mudge Peter North Queensland Clinical School, University of Queensland PO Box 1805, Townsville, Q1d 4810, Australia aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Ring Ian Epidemiology and Health Information Branch, Queensland Health GPO Box 48, Brisbane, Q1d 4001, Australia aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Sanson-Fisher Rob Hunter Centre for Health Advancement Locked Bag 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Family Practice Oxford University Press 12/2(1995-06), 227-231 0263-2136 12:2<227 1995 12 famprj Metadata rights reserved CC BY-NC-4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-oxford