Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Health Research Policy and Systems
Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Allied health research positions: a qualitative evaluation of their impact

Authors: Rachel J. Wenke, Elizabeth C. Ward, Ingrid Hickman, Julie Hulcombe, Rachel Phillips, Sharon Mickan

Published in: Health Research Policy and Systems | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Research positions embedded within healthcare settings have been identified as an enabler to allied health professional (AHP) research capacity; however, there is currently limited research formally evaluating their impact. In 2008, a Health Practitioner industrial agreement funded a research capacity building initiative within Queensland Health, Australia, which included 15 new allied health research positions. The present project used a qualitative and realist approach to explore the impact of these research positions, as well as the mechanisms which facilitated or hindered their success within their respective organisations.

Methods

Forty-four AHP employees from six governmental health services in Queensland, Australia, participated in the study. Individual interviews were undertaken, with individuals in research positions (n = 8) and their reporting line managers (n = 8). Four stakeholder focus groups were also conducted with clinicians, team leaders and professional heads who had engaged with the research positions.

Results

Nine key outcomes of the research positions were identified across individual, team/service and organisational/community levels. These outcomes included clinician skill development, increased research activity, clinical and service changes, increased research outputs and collaborations, enhanced research and workplace culture, improved profile of allied health, development of research infrastructure, and professional development of individuals in the research positions. Different mechanisms that influenced these outcomes were identified. These mechanisms were grouped by those related to the (1) research position itself, (2) organisational factors and (3) implementation factors.

Conclusions

The present findings highlight the potential value of the research positions for individuals, teams and clinical services across different governmental healthcare services, and demonstrate the impact of the roles on building the internal and external profile of allied health. Results build upon the emerging evidence base for allied health research positions and have important implications for a number of stakeholders (i.e. individuals in the research positions, AHPs and their managers, university partners and state-wide executives). Key recommendations are provided for all stakeholders to enhance the ongoing impact of these roles and the potential advocacy for additional positions and resources to support them.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Hulcombe J, Sturgess J, Souvlis T, Fitzgerald C. An approach to building research capacity for health practitioners in a public health environment: an organisational perspective. Aust Health Rev. 2014;38(3):252–8.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Pickstone C, Nancarrow S, Cooke J, Vernon W, Mountain G, Boyce RA, et al. Building research capacity in the allied health professions. Evid Policy. 2008;4(1):53–68.CrossRef
3.
Ried K, Farmer EA, Weston KM. Bursaries, writing grants and fellowships: a strategy to develop research capacity in primary health care. BMC Fam Pract. 2007;8:19.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Golenko X, Pager S, Holden L. A thematic analysis of the role of the organisation in building allied health research capacity: a senior managers’ perspective. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012;12:276.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
5.
Harding K, Lynch L, Porter J, Taylor NF. Organisational benefits of a strong research culture in a health service: a systematic review. Aust Health Rev. 2016. doi:10.1071/AH15180. Ahead of print.
6.
7.
Lazzarini PA, Geraghty J, Kinnear EM, Butterworth M, Ward D. Research capacity and culture in podiatry: early observations within. Queensland Health J. 2013;6(1):1.
8.
Finch E, Cornwell P, Ward EC, McPhail SM. Factors influencing research engagement: research interest, confidence and experience in an Australian speech-language pathology workforce. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013;13:144.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Orme J, Powell J. Building research capacity in social work: process and issues. Br J Soc Work. 2008;38(5):988–1008.CrossRef
10.
Trostle J. Research capacity and international health: definitions, evaluations and strategies for success. Soc Sci Med. 1992;35(11):1321–4.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Bernhardt J, Shyn-Li LT. More options and better job security required in career paths of physiotherapist researchers: an observational study. Aust J Physiother. 2008;54(2):135–40.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Brauer SG, Haines TP, Bew PG. Fostering clinician-led research. Aust J Physiother. 2007;53(3):143–4.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Refshauge K. Embedding research and researchers in clinical practice is fundamental. Aust J Physiother. 2008;54(3):226.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Williams C, Miyazaki K, Borkowski D, McKinstry C, Cotchet M, Haines T. Research capacity and culture of the Victorian public health allied health workforce is influenced by key research support staff and location. Aust Health Rev. 2015;39(3):303–11.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Pain T, Plummer D, Pighills A, Harvey D. Comparison of research experience and support needs of rural versus regional allied health professionals. Aust J Rural Health. 2015;23(5):277–85.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Wenke R, Mickan S. The role and impact of research positions within health care settings in allied health: A systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2016;16:355.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Perry L, Grange A, Heyman B, Noble P. Stakeholders’ perceptions of a research capacity development project for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. J Nurs Manag. 2008;16(3):315–26.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Janssen J, Hale L, Mirfin-Veitch B, Harland T. Building the research capacity of clinical physical therapists using a participatory action research approach. Phys Ther. 2013;93(7):923–34.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Pawson R, Tilley N. Realist Evaluation. London: Sage; 2004.
20.
McGhee G, Marland GR, Atkinson J. Grounded theory research: literature reviewing and reflexivity. J Adv Nurs. 2007;60(3):334–42.CrossRefPubMed
21.
QSR International Pty Ltd. NVivo qualitative data analysis Software. 11th ed. 2015.
22.
23.
Zallman L, Tendulkar S, Bhuyia N, Dube B, Early S, Arredondo M, et al. Provider’s perspectives on building research and quality improvement capacity in primary care: a strategy to improve workforce satisfaction. Clin Transl Sci. 2013;6(5):404–8.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Smith T, Brown L, Cooper R. A multidisciplinary model of rural allied health clinical-academic practice: a case study. J Allied Health. 2009;38(4):236–41.PubMed
25.
Wilson NA. Factors that affect job satisfaction and intention to leave of allied health professionals in a metropolitan hospital. Aust Health Rev. 2015;39(3):290–4.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Keane S, Smith TN, Lincoln M, Fisher K. Survey of the rural allied health workforce in New South Wales to inform recruitment and retention. Aust J Rural Health. 2011;19(1):38–44.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Keane S, Lincoln M, Smith TN. Retention of allied health professionals in rural new south Wales: a thematic analysis of focus group discussions. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012;12:175.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
28.
Keane S, Lincoln M, Rolfe M, Smith T. Retention of the rural allied health workforce in New South Wales: a comparison of public and private practitioners. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013;13:32.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
29.
Philip K. Allied health: untapped potential in the Australian health system. Aust Health Rev. 2015;39(3):244–7.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Collins J. Education techniques for lifelong learning: principles of adult learning. Radiographics. 2004;24(5):1483–9.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Rogers EM. Diffusion of Innovations. New York: Free Press; 2003.
32.
Metadata
Title
Allied health research positions: a qualitative evaluation of their impact
Authors
Rachel J. Wenke
Elizabeth C. Ward
Ingrid Hickman
Julie Hulcombe
Rachel Phillips
Sharon Mickan
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health Research Policy and Systems / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1478-4505
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-016-0166-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

Health Research Policy and Systems 1/2017 Go to the issue

Research

International consultation on long-term global health research priorities, research capacity and research uptake in developing countries

Research

Incorporating sex, gender and vulnerable populations in a large multisite health research programme: The Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network as a case study

Research

Tracking implementation strategies: a description of a practical approach and early findings

Research

The many meanings of evidence: a comparative analysis of the forms and roles of evidence within three health policy processes in Cambodia

Research

Adoption of innovative and evidence-based practices for children and adolescents in state-supported mental health clinics: a qualitative study

Research

Exploring linkages between research, policy and practice in the Netherlands: perspectives on sexual and reproductive health and rights knowledge flows