Introduction: Various initiatives have been implemented in recent years to support primary care practitioners new to research. We describe the evaluation of one particular scheme, the NHS Eastern Region Primary Care R&D Enterprise Award Scheme, and discuss the implications of the results for future policy.
Methods: Representatives from both the funders (NHS R&D) and the award holders were involved in the design of an evaluation questionnaire and in the interpretation of the results.
Results: and Discussion. The evaluation demonstrated value in relation to traditional research outcomes and also, notably, in relation to professional contribution. Future policies may need to address: the indicators used in measuring the success of such schemes; the relationship between what individuals choose to do and its context within national policy on research and development; and the sustainability of involvement in research.