Characterising the research profile of the critical care physiotherapy workforce and engagement with critical care research: a UK national survey

Abstract

ObjectiveTo characterise the research profile of UK critical care physiotherapists including experience, training needs, and barriers and enablers to engagement in critical care research. ‘Research’ was defined broadly to encompass activities related to quantitative and qualitative studies, service evaluations, clinical audit and quality improvements.DesignClosed-question online survey, with optional free-text responses.SettingUK critical care community.ParticipantsUK critical care physiotherapists, regardless of clinical grade or existing research experience.Results268 eligible survey responses were received during the 12-week study period (21 incomplete, 7.8%). Respondents were based in university-affiliated (n=133, 49.6%) and district general (n=111, 41.4%) hospitals, and generally of senior clinical grade. Nearly two-thirds had postgraduate qualifications at master’s level or above (n=163, 60.8%). Seven had a doctoral-level qualification. Respondents reported a range of research experience, predominantly data acquisition (n=144, 53.7%) and protocol development (n=119, 44.4%). Perceived research training needs were prevalent, including topics of research methods, critical literature appraisal, protocol development and statistical analysis (each reported by ≥50% respondents). Multiple formats for delivery of future research training were identified. Major barriers to research engagement included lack of protected time (n=220, 82.1%), funding (n=177, 66.0%) and perceived experience (n=151, 56.3%). Barriers were conceptually categorised into capability, opportunity and motivation themes. Key enabling strategies centred on greater information provision about clinical research opportunities, access to research training, secondment roles and professional networks.ConclusionsUK critical care physiotherapists are skilled, experienced and motivated to participate in research, including pursuing defined academic research pathways. Nonetheless wide-ranging training needs and notable barriers preclude further involvement. Strategies to harness the unique skills of this profession to enhance the quality, quantity and scope of critical care research, benefiting from a multiprofessional National Clinical Research Network, are required.

Therapist perceptions of a rehabilitation research study in the intensive care unit: a trinational survey assessing barriers and facilitators to implementing the CYCLE pilot randomized clinical trial

“…In Motivation, respondents identified concerns about the time required to conduct cycling. Our finding adds to a previous report where 82% of ICU PTs implicated time as the number one barrier to engaging in research [27].…”

“…Despite the growing interest in ICU rehabilitation interventions, and the critical role of therapists, to our knowledge, the perspectives of frontline therapists involved in research interventions are unknown. We engaged frontline ICU therapists in CYCLE for their specialized clinical expertise conducting rehabilitation interventions with complex, critically ill patients [27] and to optimize the external validity of implementation in different ICUs in preparation for the full RCT. Ideally, pilot work precedes large RCTs to assess feasibility (e.g., recruitment, retention, and implementation) and refine interventions, assessments, or other study procedures [28].…”

“…Frontline ICU therapists from our survey were enthusiastic to contribute towards research, which confirms previous work. Several studies using both quantitative [27] and qualitative methodologies [24, 29], in different settings (e.g., ICU [27], acute care [24, 29]), with different patient populations (e.g., ICU [27], early post-stroke [24], multiple sclerosis (MS) [29]), and types of interventions (e.g., a novel post-stroke early mobility [24], balance [29]) documented therapists’ eagerness to be involved with research. Therapists perceived value in the opportunities for professional growth (e.g., developing skills to pursue further education) and personal benefit (e.g., receiving acknowledgments on manuscripts).…”

Experiences and attitudes toward scientific research among physiotherapists in Austria: a cross-sectional online survey

“…Respondents were asked to indicate from a given list, which barriers and enabling factors they had personally experienced or observed, and to add any additional barriers or enabling factors in free text. Multiple responses possible; multiple-choice options were informed by conversations with key informants and relevant literature (Connolly et al, 2018;Hicks, 1993Hicks, , 1995; b…”

“…Nilsagard, Westerdahl, and Forsberg (2019) interviewed 26 (mostly) physiotherapists who had contributed to a research study in Sweden, to explore their perceptions and experiences of taking part in the project. Connolly et al (2018) surveyed 268 critical care physiotherapists in the United Kingdom to characterize the research profile and experience of this group.…”