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

2022 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Brandenburg ◽  
Elizabeth C. Ward

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.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Brandenburg ◽  
Elizabeth C Ward

Abstract Background: There are many demonstrated benefits for health service organisations 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 is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine perspectives of the career pathway for Allied Health clinicians engaged in “clinician researcher” roles within Australian health services. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, utilising 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 that: (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 incentivised 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 with 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 value or incentivization of this career choice. This often means that clinician researchers feel compelled to choose between a research or clinical career, leading to loss of this valuable combined skillset. The findings of this research may assist health services to develop and support improved clinician researcher career pathways.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Pearce ◽  
Leanne Pagett

Objective Nationally and internationally there is work underway to continue to advance the scope of practice of allied health assistants (AHA). The advanced role requires additional training and competency development, as well as significant clinical experience. To build on the evidence relating to advanced scope AHAs, ACT Health undertook a project to explore the potential for the development of the local AHA workforce. This paper provides an overview of the project. Methods The potential for advanced AHAs in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was assessed using literature reviews, consultation with other services working with advanced AHAs and interviews with local allied health managers and assistants. Results A role for advanced AHAs within the ACT workforce was recommended, along with the need to further develop the AHA governance structure and AHA training packages and to undertake more research into the AHA workforce. Conclusion AHAs make a positive contribution to the delivery of effective, responsive, consumer-focused healthcare. The advanced AHA role provides further opportunities to enhance the flexibility of allied health services while also providing a career structure for this growing workforce.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra G. Leggat ◽  
Bev Phillips ◽  
Philippa Pearce ◽  
Margaret Dawson ◽  
Debbie Schulz ◽  
...  

Objectives The aim of the present study was to explore the perspectives of allied health professionals on appropriate content for effective clinical supervision of staff. Methods A set of statements regarding clinical supervision was identified from the literature and confirmed through a Q-sort process. The final set was administered as an online survey to 437 allied health professionals working in two Australian health services. Results Of the 120 respondents, 82 had experienced six or more clinical supervision sessions and were included in the analysis. Respondents suggested that clinical supervision was beneficial to both staff and patients, and was distinct from line management performance monitoring and development. Curiously, some of the respondents did not agree that observation of the supervisee’s clinical practice was an aspect of clinical supervision. Conclusions Although clinical supervision is included as a pillar of clinical governance, current practice may not be effective in addressing clinical risk. Australian health services need clear organisational policies that outline the relationship between supervisor and supervisee, the role and responsibilities of managers, the involvement of patients and the types of situations to be communicated to the line managers. What is known about the topic? Clinical supervision for allied health professionals is an essential component of clinical governance and is aimed at ensuring safe and high-quality care. However, there is varied understanding of the relationship between clinical supervision and performance management. What does this paper add? This paper provides the perspectives of allied health professionals who are experienced as supervisors or who have experienced supervision. The findings suggest a clear role for clinical supervision that needs to be better recognised within organisational policy and procedure. What are the implications for practitioners? Supervisors and supervisees must remember their duty of care and ensure compliance with organisational policies in their clinical supervisory practices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 442-449
Author(s):  
Andressa da Silveira ◽  
Eliane Tatsch Neves

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the social network of adolescents who need special health care. Method: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study conducted between 2016 and 2017 in the pediatric outpatient clinic of a teaching hospital in southern Brazil. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age, followed by the construction of genograms and ecomaps. After transcription, the enunciations were subjected to Pêcheux’s method of discourse analysis. Results: The institutional network consists of health services, schools and religious entities, as well as adolescents’ families and friends. In the family network, women family members—such as mothers, grandmothers and aunts—have a special role. Final Consideration: The adolescents’ social network is composed of institutional and family circles. In the view of adolescents, the tertiary service is more capable of solving their problems, and for this reason used the most. In order to ensure these adolescents access to and continuity of care, the articulation between health policies and health services is suggested.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Veronica Coady ◽  
Narelle Warren ◽  
Nancy Bilkhu ◽  
Darshini Ayton

People living with Parkinson’s disease (PWPD) in rural areas have limited access to local condition-specific care. This paper examines the healthcare preferences of PWPD living in rural areas and how a community-driven initiative to employ a movement disorder nurse (MDN) functioned to address barriers to health services access. A qualitative design facilitated an understanding of how interactions with the health system shaped PWPD and their carer’s experiences of living in a regional community. A total of 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted 6–9 months apart; 19 interviews with PWPD and 23 dyadic interviews. The findings support the contention that specialist care can be effectively delivered through allied health professionals in some settings. In particular, having access to a specialist MDN can cushion the effects of living with Parkinson’s disease in regional and rural areas where continuity of care and access to timely support is often difficult for people to find. The quality of social support provided by the MDN may increase people’s ability to cope in the face of an unpredictable disease course. This is consistent with prior research, which identified that a specialist nurse or allied health services for people living with chronic conditions is enhances quality of life.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-114
Author(s):  
Muhammad Saiful Haq AlFaruqy ◽  
Ahmad Sarbini ◽  
Asep Iwan Setiawan

Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengentahui tugas pokok Bidang Kaderisasi DPW PKS Jawa Barat, untuk mengetahui proses tahapan dan sistem model kaderisasi PKS yang marhalah (berjenjang), untuk mengetahui dan mendapatkan data dalam memebentuk kader pemimpin Islami Bidang Kaderisasi DPW PKS Jawa Barat. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini ialah deskrptif kualitatif dengan tekinik pengeumpulan data berupa wawancara terstrurktur, observasi, dan studi dokumentasi.. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa model kaderisi dalam menciptakan pemimpin Islami melalui tahapan-tahapan pembinaan kader yang marhalah (berjenjang). Yaitu, Pertama, ta’lim proses pembelajaran yang mana bertujuan para kader diberikan kurikulum kaderisiasi partai. Kedua, Tandzhim yang mana setelah pembelajaran diharapkan para kader dapat mengasah dan mengimplementasikan hasil kurikulum kaderisasi. Ketiga, taqwin para kader harus dapat menginternalisasi ajaran Islam dalam partai maupun kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara. This research was conducted to identify the main tasks of the West Java PKS DPW Cadre Field Division, to find out the stages and stages of the PKS cadre model model that is marhalah (tiered), to find out and obtain data in forming the Islamic leaders cadre of the West Java PKW DPW Cadre. The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive with data collection techniques in the form of structured interviews, observations, and documentation studies. The results of this study indicate that the cadre model in creating Islamic leaders through the stages of training cadres who are marhalah (tiered). That is, First, ta'lim the learning process in which the cadres aim to be given a party cadre curriculum. Second, Tandzhim which after learning is expected that the cadres can hone and implement the results of the regeneration curriculum. Third, taqwin of cadres must be able to internalize the teachings of Islam in the party and the life of the nation and state.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110041
Author(s):  
Candidus C. Nwakasi ◽  
Kate de Medeiros ◽  
Foluke S. Bosun-Arije

Some Nigerians, in their effort to make sense of dementia symptoms, use descriptions that may stigmatize people with dementia and their families. This qualitative descriptive study focused on the everyday understanding of dementia and the impact of stigma on the caregiving experiences of informal female Nigerian dementia caregivers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 12 adult informal female caregivers in Nigeria and analyzed for themes. Afterward, results were presented to focus groups of 21 adult Nigerians residing in the United States for more contextual insight on the findings. The three major themes were misconceptions about dementia symptoms, caregiving protects against stigmatization, and stigma affects caregiving support. Overall, we argue that knowledge deficit, poor awareness, and traditional spiritual beliefs combine to drive dementia-related stigmatization in Nigeria. Strategies such as culturally appropriate dementia awareness campaigns and formal long-term care policies are urgently needed to help strengthen informal dementia caregiving in Nigeria.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e038344
Author(s):  
Yong-Xia Mei ◽  
Beilei Lin ◽  
Weihong Zhang ◽  
Dong-Bin Yang ◽  
Shan-Shan Wang ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe caregiving experience includes both caregiver burdens and benefits finding. However, the benefits obtained by family caregivers of stroke survivors in Chinese community dwellings are unknown. The objective of this study was to explore the benefits experienced by family caregivers of stroke survivors in Chinese community dwellings.DesignA qualitative descriptive design was used, fulfilling the consolidated criteria for the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research reporting guidelines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 family caregivers of stroke survivors. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed. Thematic analysis was performed to analyse the interview transcripts.Setting and participantsHome interviews were conducted with family caregivers of stroke survivors in two communities in Zhengzhou, China.ResultsThe family caregivers of stroke survivors experienced various benefits from caregiving. There were both internal benefits (increases in knowledge and skills, the development of positive attitudes, and the development of a sense of worthiness and achievement) and external benefits (family growth and gains in social support), which interact to create a healthy lifestyle.ConclusionOur findings provide a comprehensive perspective in understanding the benefits perceived by family caregivers of stroke survivors. This study provides insights into interventions focused on identifying benefits finding in six domains that may help reduce negative emotions and promote the mental health of caregivers.


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