Preventing the Voltage Drop: Keeping Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) Practices Engaged in Studies

Practice-based research continues to evolve and has become a major methodology for many pragmatic studies. While early practice-based network projects were usually short term, current studies often introduce or compare practice innovations that require long-term evaluation. That change requires that practice sites remain engaged in research work for up to 5 years, a time that can allow for a significant "voltage drop," or decline in active participation. The loss of momentum, or "voltage drop," that happens in longer-term practice-based research network studies can be addressed using multiple strategies.