At QQFS, we empower healthcare decisions through quality, expertise, and excellence. Established in Sweden in 1999, we have grown into a trusted partner for global healthcare fieldwork, combining local insight with international reach.
While our projects are global, our roots in the Nordics give us a deep understanding of how local systems, compliance frameworks, and cultural nuances shape successful market research. This is why our clients rely on us for healthcare recruitment and fieldwork that not only meets their timelines but also delivers data accuracy, respondent trust, and regulatory confidence.
Why Local Knowledge Matters in Healthcare Recruitment
Healthcare structures vary significantly between countries. Knowing these nuances can make or break recruitment success. From who prescribes medication to how specialties are defined, small details can have a major impact on sample feasibility and questionnaire design.
Here are some practical insights from our experience across key European regions:
Austria
Austria stands apart from many markets in Europe because haematology and oncology are a combined specialty. This impacts both recruitment and questionnaire design. For example, projects targeting oncologists may need to include haematologists by title.
Additionally, internal medicine specialists in Austria play a broader role than in most countries. They treat diseases affecting all organs of the body and often subspecialise, meaning they can prescribe a wide range of treatments. When recruiting, ensure the inclusion criteria reflect this overlap between internists and subspecialists to capture a complete picture of the care pathway.
Belgium
In Belgium, maternity care is managed primarily by gynaecologists rather than midwives. GPs and gynaecologists are also the ones who prescribe contraceptives, so understanding these responsibilities is crucial for accurate targeting in women’s health studies.
Equally important is language sensitivity. Belgium has distinct linguistic regions such as Dutch, and French, and respondents expect to be approached in their native language. Sending invitations in the wrong language can offend potential participants and harm study credibility. Always double-check regional segmentation before launching recruitment.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, most GPs hold a specialization in general internal medicine (Facharzt für Allgemeine Innere Medizin / spécialiste en médecine interne générale). These physicians act as primary care providers, bridging the gap between general practice and internal medicine. However, internists also work in hospitals, so specifying the setting (private practice vs hospital) ensures sample precision.
Given Switzerland’s multilingual nature and strict compliance culture, recruitment messaging must align with local regulations and language preferences across German, French, and Italian regions.
Denmark
In Denmark, transparency in research is essential. Under the Sunshine Act, if a market research study is not double-blinded, physicians must publicly disclose their collaboration with the sponsoring company. When planning recruitment, clarify the study’s blinding status early and communicate it clearly to respondents. This helps maintain trust and ensures ethical participation.
The ethical committee for the pharma industry in Denmark (ENLI) requires incentives to be paid in form of real payment and thus we are paying the incentive via bank transfer on this market.
Patient Record Form (PRF) studies are not permitted. Physicians are not allowed to access or extract patient data from medical records for market research purposes. When conducting PRF studies, this must be accounted for at the design stage often by using alternative data-collection methods such as hypothetical or from memory.
Finland
Finland’s healthcare system is known for its centralised care for severe or rare diseases, where treatment may be limited to a single national hospital or unit. This affects feasibility for niche therapeutic areas, as potential respondents are concentrated in fewer institutions.
Patient Record Form (PRF) studies are not permitted. Physicians are not allowed to access or extract patient data from medical records for market research purposes. When conducting PRF studies, this must be accounted for at the design stage often by using alternative data-collection methods such as hypothetical or from memory.
Sweden
Sweden’s healthcare landscape is built on strong regional systems and long-term physician engagement. Primary care is delivered through “vårdcentraler”, which can be private or public, but both operate under regional agreements ensuring consistent patient fees and access.
Physicians in Sweden also tend to stay in practice longer, often for more than 30 years. This stability enhances panel reliability and response consistency, as many healthcare professionals have participated in multiple studies over time — a key strength for longitudinal research or trackers.
Patient Record Form (PRF) studies are not permitted. Physicians are not allowed to access or extract patient data from medical records for market research purposes. When conducting PRF studies, this must be accounted for at the design stage often by using alternative data-collection methods such as hypothetical or from memory.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands operates under a mandatory health insurance system, which shapes patient pathways and prescribing authority. When researching chronic disease management or patient access, it’s essential to account for insurance-driven decision patterns.
In oncology, pulmonologists are the main treaters of lung cancer, while oncologists play a secondary role. Recruitment strategies should therefore prioritise pulmonologists for studies focused on lung cancer.
Another important local insight: when calling practices, it’s rare to reach physicians directly. Initial contact is usually through assistants or reception staff. Building rapport with these gatekeepers is crucial for successful recruitment.
The QQFS Custom Recruitment Team
Our team specializes in tailored fieldwork solutions that connect you with the right audience—efficiently and effectively. With deep expertise in the global pharmaceutical landscape and a keen sensitivity to local market dynamics, we ensure every project is both globally informed and locally relevant.
We combine strategic insight, flexibility, and meticulous attention to detail to deliver fieldwork that aligns seamlessly with your objectives. Every engagement is executed with a personal touch, resulting in high-quality, actionable insights that are customized to your market needs.
Anticipating challenges before they arise, we take a proactive approach and maintain clear, consistent communication throughout. The result? Smooth project delivery, zero escalation, and insights you can trust.
At QQFS, we uphold the highest standards of data quality and respondent authenticity through a multi-layered verification process. This ensures that all participants—whether physicians, patients, or other healthcare professionals—are genuine, qualified, and relevant to the study.
Triple Verification Approach – We verify respondents before, during, and after each study to detect and prevent duplicates, fraud, and inconsistencies
With more than two decades of experience, QQFS continues to lead healthcare market research fieldwork across Europe. Our Nordic roots, global reach, and in-house recruitment expertise make us your ideal partner for healthcare fieldwork and respondent recruitment.
