Die Einbindung von Medizinischen Fachangestellten in die Koordination von Studien in der Hausarztpraxis: Eine qualitative Studie

Background: In this paper, we investigated which aspects had influenced the involvement of Health Care Assistants (HCAs) in the coordination and recruitment of a clinical study for the implementation of an online self-management program for patients with asthma in primary care practices. Methods: In eleven family practices, the person (HCA or physician) who, according to the cooperation agreement, had taken over the local study coordination, was invited to participate in a semistructured interview. The evaluation was carried out with a summarizing content analysis. Results: According to the cooperation agreement, HCAs took on the coordination function in four and doctors in seven practices; in at least two other practices, however, HCAs took on essential coordination functions. Important reasons for doctors to take over the coordination themselves were the routine workload of HCAs, part-time employment or concerns about the development of internal competition. With regard to addressing possible study participants, doctors saw better chances of success in themselves because of their authority. A reward for the HCAs was seen as desirable. Conclusions: In the accompanying study, the doctors were often reluctant to pass on important functions to the HCA. The successful integration of HCAs in clinical trials appears to be a complex task that requires a respectful and trusting cooperation between the participants that grows over time.