“There hasn’t been a career structure to step into”: a qualitative study on perceptions of allied health clinician researcher careers

Abstract

Background There are many demonstrated benefits for health service organizations engaging in research. As a result, growing numbers of clinicians are being encouraged to pursue research as part of their clinical roles, including in allied health (AH). However, while the benefits of having clinician researchers embedded in AH services have been well established, the career needs of those engaged in these dual roles are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine perspectives of the career pathway for AH clinicians engaged in “clinician researcher” roles within Australian health services. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, utilizing semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to ensure selection of varied locations, professions and role types. Results were analysed using thematic analysis. Trustworthiness was established using regular peer debriefing during theme development, and respondent validation of final themes. Results Fifty-seven AH clinician researchers, including those who did and did not have research as a formal component of their current role, participated in semi-structured interviews. Key themes were as follows: (1) clinician researchers prefer roles which are embedded in health services; (2) current opportunities for clinician researcher roles in health are insufficient; (3) there are deficiencies in the pathway for clinician researcher careers; (4) clinician researchers are not always valued or incentivized by health services; (5) the current career challenges impair the viability of clinician researcher careers; and (6) the clinician researcher career path has been improving, and there is hope it will continue to improve. Conclusion This study outlines a number of weaknesses in the current career structure and opportunities for AH clinician researchers in Australian health services. In particular, while there are strong intrinsic drivers to pursue this dual career, extrinsic drivers are poorly developed, including a lack of job opportunities, an unstable career pathway and a lack of valuing or incentivizing this career choice within health services. This often means that clinician researchers feel compelled to choose between a research or clinical career, leading to loss of this valuable combined skill set. The findings of this research may assist health services in developing and supporting improved clinician researcher career pathways.

What is known about clinician researcher careers in allied health? A scoping review of the last decade

“…A key finding of this scoping review was that literature focusing on AH research career pathways and progression was lacking. A recently published qualitative study in Australia investigated clinician researcher perceptions of their career opportunities and pathways (Brandenburg and Ward, 2022). The results of the study reflected some of the findings of this review, namely, that participants felt there were limited career opportunities, an unclear career pathway and lack of incentivisition of combined careers, leading a loss of this dual skillset (Brandenburg and Ward, 2022).…”

“…A recently published qualitative study in Australia investigated clinician researcher perceptions of their career opportunities and pathways (Brandenburg and Ward, 2022). The results of the study reflected some of the findings of this review, namely, that participants felt there were limited career opportunities, an unclear career pathway and lack of incentivisition of combined careers, leading a loss of this dual JHOM 36,6 skillset (Brandenburg and Ward, 2022). In combination with Trusson et al (2019) in the UK, these two studies provide some empirical information about how clinician researchers perceive their career opportunities, although specific to these two countries.…”

Impact of Research Training on Newly Graduated Health Professionals’ Motivation to Undertake Research

“…Furthermore, the nursing, midwifery, and allied health workforce make up only 1% of the clinical academic workforce in the UK. 15 In Australia, 64% of Victorian allied health clinicians perceived lack of access to self-defined “research lead” positions, resulting in blurred career pathways for allied health researchers. 15 …”

“… 15 In Australia, 64% of Victorian allied health clinicians perceived lack of access to self-defined “research lead” positions, resulting in blurred career pathways for allied health researchers. 15 …”

“…6 They then compensate by undertaking formal post-graduate research training, motivated by a desire to improve patient care, career progression, personal development as well as the research capacity and culture of the organisation in which they work. 13,15,16 While emerging evidence shows that increasingly organisations are attempting to build the research capacity of allied health professionals by promoting dedicated or embedded research positions, [17][18][19] a recent study has shown that fewer than 1% of allied health professionals in the UK are employed in clinical academic roles, 13 and these roles are held by mid/late career HPs with post-graduate research qualifications. Furthermore, the nursing, midwifery, and allied health workforce make up only 1% of the clinical academic workforce in the UK.…”