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Research capacity-building for clinicians: understanding how the research facilitator role fosters clinicians' engagement in the research process

Citation

Flenady, T and Dwyer, T and Kahl, J and Sobolewska, A and Reid-Searl, K and Signal, T, Research capacity-building for clinicians: understanding how the research facilitator role fosters clinicians' engagement in the research process, Health Research Policy and Systems, 20, (1) Article 45. ISSN 1478-4505 (2022) [Refereed Article]


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Copyright Statement

© The Authors 2022. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

DOI: doi:10.1186/s12961-022-00849-8

Abstract

Background: There is evidence reporting more positive outcomes from research capacity-building (RCB) programmes that include a research facilitator role. Further, it has been suggested that research facilitator roles can be a useful strategy in building the research capacity of healthcare clinicians. However, until now, little attention has been applied to identifying the characteristics of the research facilitator role and how this role contributes to clinicians' engagement with the research process. The aim of this present study is to explore the characteristics required of the research facilitator role in the educational workshop phase of an RCB programme.

Methods: This qualitative study employed an inductive approach and utilized face-to-face interviews to gather data from a purposely selected cohort. Professionally transcribed responses were thematically analysed.

Results: The role of the research facilitator emerged as comprising two main themes: (1) facilitating the research process and (2) engaging expert clinicians as novice researchers. Pragmatically, analysis of data led to the development of a table outlining the responsibilities, skills and attributes related to each theme. Conceptually, theme 1 encapsulates the research facilitators' skills and experience and their role as knowledge brokers and cocreators of knowledge. Theme 2 provides insight into the clinician-centric approach the research facilitators utilized to build and foster relationships and support the clinicians through their research journey.

Conclusions: This study reports on the characteristics of the research facilitator role in one phase of an RCB programme in one regional health service district in Australia and explains how the role fosters clinicians' engagement with the research process. Findings from this study will inform the development of future RCB programmes, which is important considering that clinicians' increased engagement with the research process is vital for developing a sound evidence base to support decision-making in practice and leads to higher levels of skills and greater ability to perform useful research.

Item Details

Item Type:Refereed Article
Keywords:Clinician researcher; Novice researcher; Research capacity-building; Research facilitator
Research Division:Education
Research Group:Curriculum and pedagogy
Research Field:Medicine, nursing and health curriculum and pedagogy
Objective Division:Health
Objective Group:Evaluation of health and support services
Objective Field:Evaluation of health outcomes
UTAS Author:Reid-Searl, K (Professor Kerry Reid-Searl)
ID Code:153872
Year Published:2022
Deposited By:Psychology
Deposited On:2022-10-12
Last Modified:2022-11-23
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