Not enough time for research? Use of supported funding to promote allied health research activity

Abstract

PurposeThe current project evaluated the impact of a short-term, supported funding initiative that allowed staff from allied health (AH) professions to undertake research activity within rostered employment time. Specifically, the project will report on outcomes pertaining to individual research capacity, research output, and overall satisfaction with the initiative.Participants and methodsSixteen AH clinicians (n=16) from six AH professions participated in the evaluation of the initiative, with data being collected within a service improvement framework. Clinicians received up to 4 weeks of protected time relieved from their clinical duties to undertake research activities, including writing for publication, undertaking a systematic review, data analysis, and preparation of ethics applications. An AH Research Fellow provided additional support and mentorship, including the development of an implementation plan. Evaluation included pre–post measures of individual research capacity using a 15-item self-report Research Capacity and Culture (RCC) survey, a post-implementation satisfaction survey, and monitoring of research output achieved.ResultsStatistically significant improvements (p<0.05) were found on 14 out of 15 items on the RCC tool, with meaningful improvements in securing funding, analyzing qualitative data, writing for publication, literature searching skills, and providing advice to less experienced researchers. Overall satisfaction with the initiative was high, with positive comments from AH professionals (AHPs) regarding the initiative. Research output arising from the initiative included eleven manuscripts being submitted, with six currently in publication and others under review.ConclusionThe preliminary findings support the feasibility of implementing a local, clinical funding model to promote individual research capacity and research output for AHPs. The short-term funding should be supported by local mentorship and guidance. Local barriers and suggestions to optimize implementation, including integrating within existing research infrastructure and using flexible “backfill” options, will also be described.

Outcomes of a funding initiative to promote allied health research activity: a qualitative realist evaluation

“…More recently, Wenke et al [15] implemented a funding initiative in an Australian tertiary regional health organisation, providing up to 20 days backfill funding to allow AHPs protected time to conduct research during their usual clinical hours. The initiative, which ran biannually, was established in 2014 and has provided funds to 41 AHPs across 7 rounds of funding to date.…”

“…The initiative, which ran biannually, was established in 2014 and has provided funds to 41 AHPs across 7 rounds of funding to date. Wenke et al's [15] initial evaluation of the funding initiative for 16 AHPs found that the initiative significantly increased AHP's self-reported research capacity on the Research Capacity and Culture tool [16]. It also led to a number of research outputs, including 11 articles submitted for publication, 4 successful ethics submissions and 3 studies commencing data collection [15].…”

“…Wenke et al's [15] initial evaluation of the funding initiative for 16 AHPs found that the initiative significantly increased AHP's self-reported research capacity on the Research Capacity and Culture tool [16]. It also led to a number of research outputs, including 11 articles submitted for publication, 4 successful ethics submissions and 3 studies commencing data collection [15]. Wenke et al [15] also reported that, in the short-term, this funding initiative increased clinician's research capacity and outputs.…”

“…It also led to a number of research outputs, including 11 articles submitted for publication, 4 successful ethics submissions and 3 studies commencing data collection [15]. Wenke et al [15] also reported that, in the short-term, this funding initiative increased clinician's research capacity and outputs. However, it is not clear how the local context, resources and infrastructure supported or hindered the achievement of outcomes.…”

“…While investment in providing clinicians with protected time to undertake research has shown short-term improvements in research capacity and research outputs [12,13,15], research into the medium-term outcomes of such funding initiatives or the mechanisms that mediate such outcomes has not been reported. As governments and health services invest substantial funds into research grants to enable clinicians to undertake research, it is important that mechanisms likely to assist with maximising outcomes of the funding initiative are identified.…”