scholarly journals Developing a consolidated research framework for clinical allied health professionals practising in the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Harris ◽  
Kate Grafton ◽  
Jo Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Research Knowledge ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Research Framework ◽  
Common Framework ◽  
Research Frameworks ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) form a significant part of the healthcare workforce and have great potential to improve services through research and research-informed practice. However, there is a lack of tradition in research embedded in practice in these professional groups. Barriers include clinical caseload pressures, a lack of sustainable training and consequent lack of confidence in practitioners. Practice managers are ill-equipped to monitor and guide staff research development. The modern healthcare system is a multi-disciplinary environment focused on the needs of the patient. A common framework across all AHP disciplines, offering equality in research knowledge and skills and shared language, might be helpful in planning and developing clinical career pathways. Our aim is to develop a consolidated research framework to help AHPs to plan and guide research activity throughout their career. Methods The study was conducted in three phases. Phase one identified existing AHP research frameworks (AHPRF) through expert consultations and literature searches. Phase two involved framework analysis of the AHPRFs to develop a single consolidated framework. Phase three included a workshop with experts to validate and adapt the framework for practice. Results Nineteen AHPRFs were identified. A consolidated framework was shaped by analysis of the AHPRFs resulting in a consolidated framework of eight sections, each containing a series of statements. Each section relates to an analytic theme within the framework analysis, and the statements were based on sub-categories of themes. The final framework was further shaped by the phase three workshop into a set of ‘stem’ statements that can be adapted to reflect different levels of expertise and the inclusion of a set of guiding principles developed through expert consultation. Conclusion The consolidated framework was entitled ‘Shaping Better Practice Through Research: A Practitioner Framework’ by stakeholders, thus emphasising its ambition to embed research activity into practice. It instigates a new perspective within AHP research by offering practitioners and managers a tool that can be applied across public, private, and voluntary settings for AHPs in all disciplines. Its ambition is to develop capacity in the AHPs that can undertake research to improve services and the health of service users.

scholarly journals Developing a Consolidated Research Career Framework for Allied Health Professionals in the UK

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Deborah Harris ◽  
Kate Grafton ◽  
Jo Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Research Career ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Common Framework ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Research Frameworks ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) form a significant part of the healthcare workforce, and have a great potential to improve services through research and research-informed practice. However, there is a lack of tradition in undertaking research alongside practice in these professional groups. Barriers include clinical caseload pressures, a lack of training and consequent lack of confidence in practitioners. Practice managers are ill-equipped to monitor and guide staff research development. Uni-professional knowledge & skills frameworks can act as further barriers to research culture across the healthcare system that is moving toward multi-disciplinary research focussing on the patient. A common framework, acceptable to all AHPs might be helpful in planning and developing clinical career pathways. Aim: to develop a consolidated research career framework to help plan and guide research activity throughout AHP clinical-academic careers. The study was conducted in three phases. Methods Phase one identified existing AHP research frameworks (AHPRF) through expert consultations and literature searches. Phase two involved Framework Analysis of the AHPRFs to develop a single consolidated framework. Phase three included a workshop with experts to validate and adapt the framework for practice. Results 19 AHPRFs were identified. A consolidated framework was shaped by analysis of the AHPRFs resulting in a consolidated framework of eight sections, each containing a series of statements. Each section relates to an analytic theme within the thematic analysis, and the statements were based on sub-categories of themes. The final framework was further shaped by the phase three workshop into a set of ‘stem’ statements that can be adapted to reflect different levels of expertise and the inclusion of a set of guiding principles developed through expert consultation. Conclusion The consolidated framework was entitled ‘Shaping Better Practice Through Research: A Practitioner Framework’ by stakeholders, thus emphasising its ambition to embed research activity into practice. It instigates a new perspective within AHP research by offering practitioners and managers a tool that can be applied across public, private and voluntary settings for AHPs in all disciplines. Its ambition is to develop capacity in the AHPs that can undertake research to improve services and the health of service users.

scholarly journals Developing a Consolidated Research Career Competency Framework for Allied Health Professionals

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Deborah Harris ◽  
Kate Grafton ◽  
Jo Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Research Competency ◽  
Common Framework ◽  
Staff Research ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Research Frameworks

Abstract Background Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) form a significant part of the healthcare workforce, and have a great potential to improve services through research and research informed practice. However, there is a lack of tradition in undertaking research alongside practice in these professional groups. Barriers include clinical caseload pressures, a lack of training and consequent lack of confidence in practitioners. Practice managers are ill-equipped to monitor and guide staff research development. Uni-professional competency frameworks can act as further barriers to research culture across the healthcare system that is moving toward multi-disciplinary research focussing on the patient. A common framework, acceptable to all AHPs might be helpful in planning and developing clinical career pathways. Methods Aim: to develop a consolidated framework of research competency to help plan and guide research activity throughout AHP clinical-academic careers. The study was conducted in three phases. Phase one identified existing AHP research frameworks (AHPRF) through expert consultations and literature searches. Phase two involved thematic content of the AHPRFs to develop a single consolidated framework. Phase three included a workshop with experts to validate and adapt the framework for practice. Results 19 AHPRFs were identified. A consolidated framework was shaped by content analysis of the AHPRFs resulting in a consolidated framework of eight sections, each containing a series of competencies. Each section relates to an analytic theme within the content analysis, and the competencies were based on analytic sub-categories of themes. The final framework was further shaped by the phase three workshop into a set of ‘stem’ competency statements that can be adapted to reflect different levels of expertise. It also includes a set of guiding principles for use. Conclusion The consolidated framework was entitled ‘Shaping Better Practice Through Research: A Practitioner Framework’ by stakeholders, thus emphasising its ambition to embed research activity into practice. It instigates a new perspective within AHP research by offering practitioners and managers a tool that can be applied across public, private and voluntary settings for AHPs in all disciplines. Its ambition is to develop capacity in the AHPs that can undertake research to improve services and the health of service users.

scholarly journals Frontline Allied Health Professionals in a Tertiary Children’s Hospital: Moving Forward Research Capacity, Culture and Engagement

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-49
Author(s):  
Hortensia Gimeno ◽  
Lucy Alderson ◽  
Gillian Waite ◽  
Deepti Chugh ◽  
Graeme O'Connor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Children’S Hospital ◽  
Culture Development

Higher levels of research activity within healthcare contexts are known to result in improvements to staff and patient satisfaction as well as treatment outcomes. In the United Kingdom (UK), clinical academic careers for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are a key priority development area. This article presents the results of a study that aimed to scope the research capacity of four AHP professions in a tertiary children’s hospital using the Research Capacity and Culture Tool. This tool captures individuals’ views of success or skill required for a number of research-related items within the three domains of individual, team and organisation. Response rate ranged between 45-71% across the four groups. Reported barriers to carrying out research included a lack of time, clinical work taking priority, and lack of suitable backfill (i.e., employing a therapist to cover the clinical post for the AHP to complete research activity). Motivators, on the other hand, included skill development, career advancement, and increased job satisfaction. As a first step to strengthen research skills, a systematic process was used to devise a suite of supportive strategies targeting the individuals’ perceived gaps in their research abilities across four pillars: (i) awareness, (ii) accessibility, (iii) opportunity and capacity, and (iv) knowledge and skills. This process drew on previously published accounts of successful research capacity and culture development, as well as the unique needs of staff at this tertiary children’s hospital. The outcome of this process was a structured framework to support research capacity, culture and engagement. The specific details of this framework are reported in this article together with further recommendations to promote research capacity, culture and engagement amongst AHPs.

scholarly journals Impacts of clinical academic activity: qualitative interviews with healthcare managers and research-active nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and pharmacists

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e050679
Author(s):  
Lisa Newington ◽  
Caroline M Alexander ◽  
Mary Wells
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Healthcare Organisation ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Academic Activity ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Positive Impacts

ObjectivesTo explore the perceived impacts of clinical academic activity among the professions outside medicine.DesignQualitative semistructured interviews.Setting and participantsThere were two groups of interviewees: Research-active nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, psychologists and pharmacists (NMAHPPs) and managers of these professions. All participants were employed in a single, multisite healthcare organisation in the UK.AnalysisInterview transcripts were analysed using the framework method to identify key themes, subthemes and areas of divergence.ResultsFour themes were identified. The first, cultural shifts, described the perceived improvements in the approach to patient care and research culture that were associated with clinical academic activity. The second theme explored visibility and included the positive reputation that clinical academics were identified as bringing to the organisation in contrast with perceived levels of invisibility and inaccessibility of these roles. The third theme identified the impacts of the clinical academic pathways, including the precarity of these roles. The final theme explored making impact tangible, and described interviewees’ suggestions of possible methods to record and demonstrate impact.ConclusionsPerceived positive impacts of NMAHPP clinical academic activity focused on interlinked positive changes for patients and clinical teams. This included delivery of evidence-based healthcare, patient involvement in clinical decision making and improved staff recruitment and retention. However, the positive impacts of clinical academic activity often centred around individual clinicians and did not necessarily translate throughout the organisation. The current clinical academic pathway was identified as causing tension between the perceived value of clinical academic activity and the need to find sufficient staffing to cover clinical services.

Digital confidence, experience and motivation in physiotherapists: A UK-wide survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Tack
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Uk

Background: Healthcare digital transformation should focus on the use of innovative technologies to enhance quality, safety, efficiency of care services, and patient experience. Subsequently, the roles and skills of healthcare staff will change, requiring evaluation and elevation of digital literacy across the physiotherapy profession. Aim: To evaluate the confidence, motivation and competence of digital technologies in a cohort of UK physiotherapists (juxtaposed with a wider group of allied health professionals). Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional online questionnaire of physiotherapists and other allied health professionals (AHPs) in the UK. Results: 282 responses from AHPs were received with 279 complete responses for further analysis (including 126 physiotherapists). Physiotherapists report moderate-high levels of confidence in the use of digital devices (7.6 ±1.77), and high levels of motivation in learning about digital technology (8.7 ±1.6). Physiotherapists self-rate their knowledge regarding the benefits of digital transformation as high (72%). Physiotherapists show a strong preference for daily communication via telephone (82%) and email (97%). Conclusion: Physiotherapists demonstrate moderate-high levels of confidence and motivation to use digital technologies (in line with those seen in other AHPs). Higher degrees of competence are reported regarding understanding the benefits of digital technology, and lower competence is reported regarding topic areas such as artificial intelligence and data analytics.

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